Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have rescued 47 civilians, predominantly women and children, from an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) hideout in Kangarwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
The victims were freed during a military operation conducted on June 20 as part of intensified offensives targeting terrorist strongholds in the Lake Chad region.
The Acting Military Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Monday.
According to him, the successful rescue followed sustained ground and air operations against ISWAP positions, which disrupted the activities of the insurgents and forced them to abandon their camps.
Goni explained that the coordinated assaults created an opportunity for the captives to escape after the terrorists fled under pressure from advancing troops.
“The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, has achieved another major humanitarian milestone with the rescue of over 47 persons, mainly women and children, who had been held by ISWAP terrorists in Kangarwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State,” he said.
He added that relentless military operations in the Lake Chad axis had continued to weaken terrorist formations and reduce their capacity to hold territory.
“The rescue was made possible through sustained offensive operations carried out by troops against ISWAP enclaves in the Lake Chad region. The combined ground and air assaults forced the terrorists to abandon their positions in disarray, allowing the victims to regain their freedom after a prolonged period in captivity,” Goni stated.
The military spokesman said the rescued civilians have been moved to a secure location where they are receiving medical attention and other humanitarian assistance.
He noted that relevant government agencies and humanitarian organisations are working with the military to facilitate their rehabilitation and eventual reintegration into society.
“The rescued persons are currently receiving medical care and necessary support at a secure location. Humanitarian agencies are also collaborating with the military to ensure their proper rehabilitation and reintegration,” he said.
Goni stressed that the operation highlights the military’s commitment to protecting civilians while maintaining pressure on terrorist groups operating in the North-East.
According to him, Operation Hadin Kai remains focused on degrading insurgent capabilities, rescuing abducted civilians and restoring lasting peace across affected communities.
“This achievement underscores the determination of Operation HADIN KAI not only to dismantle terrorist networks but also to secure the release of innocent civilians held against their will,” he added.
The military further reaffirmed its resolve to sustain ongoing operations aimed at eliminating the remaining ISWAP cells across the region.
“The Theatre Command remains committed to maintaining the current momentum, dismantling terrorist structures and restoring normalcy to communities affected by insurgency in the North-East,” the statement said.
Borno State has remained one of the areas most impacted by insurgency for more than a decade, with thousands of residents displaced, abducted or killed by Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters.
In recent months, security forces have intensified military campaigns across the Lake Chad Basin and Sambisa Forest corridors in a renewed effort to weaken insurgent groups, secure vulnerable communities and create conditions for the safe return of displaced persons.
