By Deborah Nnamdi
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have rescued 12 teenage girls abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters in Mussa District, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Nigerian Army announced the development on Sunday in a statement posted on its official X handle, saying the victims were freed on Saturday, November 29, following a swift, intelligence-led operation in the southern Borno axis.
According to the army, the girls—aged between 15 and 20—were abducted on November 23 while harvesting crops on their family farmlands. They have since been moved to a secure military facility where they are receiving medical care, psychological support, and debriefing.
“Upon completion of these processes, they will be formally reunited with their families. Their recovery has brought immense relief to the community, which had been gripped by fear following the abduction,” the statement read.
The rescued girls were identified as Fatima Shaibu (17), Fatima Umaru (15), Hauwa Abubakar (18), Saliha Muhammed (15), Sadiya Umaru (17), Amira Babel (15), Zara Adamu (17), Nana Shaibu (15), Zainab Musa (18), Zainab Muhammed (17), Jamila Saidu (15), and Hauwa Hamidu (17).
The Military High Command commended the troops for their swift response and praised the contributions of security stakeholders and local informants whose timely intelligence made the operation possible.
It added that troops are sustaining the pursuit of ISWAP remnants across southern Borno to prevent further attacks and urged communities to continue providing credible information to support ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
