Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have rescued 92 kidnapped victims from Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists along the Biu–Buratai–Kamuya–Damaturu road in Borno State.
The operation was carried out on Saturday, May 23, 2026, in the Biu Local Government Area after troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion stationed at Dutse Kura detected insurgents forcing civilians and vehicles off the highway into nearby bushes through surveillance monitoring.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Media Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, the troops immediately deployed a Quick Reaction Force while reinforcements from the 27 Task Force Brigade Garrison joined the rescue mission.
The troops reportedly pursued the terrorists towards the Mangari-Dora area, engaging them in a coordinated operation that forced the insurgents to abandon their captives and flee.
Uba disclosed that all 92 victims, made up of 52 men, 33 women, and seven children, were rescued successfully alongside eight vehicles recovered during the operation.
He added that the fleeing terrorists planted three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along the Bula Zarma and Mangari axis in an attempt to slow down the advancing troops. However, the military’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team successfully detected and detonated the explosives, allowing troops to continue the pursuit for about five kilometres beyond Mangari.
“Subsequent search operations were conducted across the area, but the terrorists, having abandoned their captives, vehicles, and tactical objectives, scattered in complete disarray,” the statement said.
The military also confirmed that no personnel or equipment casualties were recorded during the rescue mission. The rescued civilians were reportedly provided with immediate welfare support and escorted safely to Damaturu to continue their journey.
Uba said the operation demonstrated the surveillance capability, combat readiness, and operational strength of Operation HADIN KAI in tackling terrorism across the North-East.
Meanwhile, the Theatre Command also dismissed allegations circulating in a viral social media video claiming that troops under the operation had not been paid allowances and that a soldier was victimised after raising complaints.
The command described the claims as false and misleading, insisting that all legitimate allowances due to troops under Operation HADIN KAI had been paid up to May 2026.
According to the statement, the issue raised in the video concerned a separate incentive paid to troops providing security for a critical national asset in Tuba, which depended on the availability of funds.
The command explained that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation initially handled the payments before suspending them after ending exploration activities, after which the Borno State Government stepped in to continue the arrangement.
The statement further noted that the soldier involved was neither intimidated nor punished, adding that preliminary investigations showed the video was produced by a content creator allegedly known for publishing misleading materials sourced from disgruntled individuals.
The Theatre Command warned against the spread of unverified information capable of undermining troop morale and national security, while reaffirming its commitment to restoring peace and stability across the North-East region.
