Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have reportedly rescued 360 hostages during a major operation against a faction of the terrorist group Boko Haram in the Mandara Mountains area of Borno State.
According to military sources, the operation was carried out on June 6 after security forces gathered intelligence through a combination of human sources, signals intelligence, and drone surveillance. The intelligence reportedly enabled troops to identify and target a stronghold belonging to a Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) faction of Boko Haram.
During the raid, troops are said to have overwhelmed the insurgents’ enclave, forcing the fighters to flee and creating an opportunity for the rescue of hundreds of captives.
The rescued individuals were reportedly among those abducted during a March 3 attack on Ngoshe and surrounding communities, where terrorists allegedly killed residents, destroyed homes, and carried away numerous civilians.
Following their rescue, the victims received medical attention, psychological support, food, and other humanitarian assistance before being reunited with their families.
Military authorities have described the operation as one of the most significant hostage rescue missions conducted in recent months, emphasizing that the captives were freed through military action rather than the payment of ransom.
Some local accounts, however, have suggested that community-level negotiations may also have played a role in creating conditions that facilitated the release. Security officials have not publicly confirmed those claims.
The operation comes at a time when the Nigerian military continues to intensify counter-insurgency campaigns across the North-East, despite persistent attacks by terrorist groups in parts of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
The rescue has been widely welcomed by residents and community leaders, many of whom have praised the efforts of security personnel involved in the operation.
Security analysts note that while large-scale rescue missions are important successes, sustained military pressure, intelligence gathering, stabilization programs, and community engagement remain necessary to prevent insurgents from regrouping and carrying out further attacks.
The development also highlights the continuing humanitarian impact of the insurgency, which has displaced millions of people and subjected thousands to abduction, violence, and prolonged captivity over the years.
For many of the rescued victims and their families, the operation marks the end of months of uncertainty and captivity, offering a rare moment of relief amid the broader security challenges facing Nigeria’s North-East region.
