Troops Rescue Eight Escapees from Mandara Mountains, Reunite Family in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have rescued eight persons, including women and children, who escaped from insurgent-held enclaves in the Mandara Mountains area of Borno State.
Security sources said the escapees were intercepted by troops of the 82 Division Task Force Battalion deployed in Ngoshe community during a perimeter clearance patrol along the Gava axis.
The sources identified the rescued persons as Mrs Bintu Ibrahim, 28; Halima Ibrahim, 10; Abubakar Ibrahim, 8; Mayriam Abubakar, 7; Mohammed Ibrahim, 5; Fatima Ibrahim, 2; Mrs Hafsat Bashir, 28; and her 18-month-old son, Abdullahi Usman.
According to preliminary investigations, the group escaped from Gava and Chikede communities in the Mandara Mountains following sustained military operations that reportedly disrupted insurgent activities and cut off supplies to the enclaves.
The sources said the escapees were intercepted by troops at about 7:55 a.m. on June 21 and were immediately provided with first aid and other humanitarian assistance.
They were subsequently handed over to the Ngoshe community leadership for care and reintegration.
The sources further disclosed that Mrs Hafsat Bashir is the widow of Bashir Musa, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) who was killed during an attack on Ngoshe community on March 3, 2026.
Her return to the community was said to have attracted an emotional reception, with CJTF members and residents joining in welcoming the wife and child of their late colleague.
Military authorities said the rescue highlighted the impact of ongoing operations aimed at dismantling terrorist strongholds and creating conditions for civilians trapped in insurgent enclaves to regain their freedom.
Operation Hadin Kai has sustained pressure on Boko Haram and ISWAP elements across the North-East, leading to the rescue of captives, recovery of weapons and disruption of terrorist logistics networks.
