Troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with Operation Desert Sanity, have rescued six women and children from captivity in the Amuda-Ngoshe axis of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, while also arresting suspected terrorist collaborators during coordinated operations across the North-East.
The military said the successful operation led to the arrest of five suspected collaborators believed to have been operating within the Mandara Mountains for more than a decade.
Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Maiduguri, noting that troops have continued to record significant operational gains in ongoing counterterrorism operations across the theatre.
According to him, the rescue followed actionable intelligence obtained after an air interdiction mission around the Mandara Mountains, leading troops to a suspected terrorist crossing point near Amuda on May 12, 2026.
Uba identified the rescued victims as Aisha Musa, 18; Aisha Mohammed, 17; Fatima Yahaya, 20; Saudatu Musa, 4; Garba Mohammed, 5; and Mohammed Yahaya, a minor.
He explained that the victims were among residents of the Ngoshe community who were abducted by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists during an attack on the community on March 3, 2026.
Following their rescue, the victims were immediately taken to a military medical facility for treatment before being reunited with their families through the community leader of Ngoshe, Mallam Adamu Gunda.
In a separate operation carried out on the same day, troops deployed at Tango Seven in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State arrested a 40-year-old woman, Hauwa Bulama, suspected of being linked to terrorist activities.
Items recovered from the suspect included detergent, washing soap, a torchlight, and seasoning cubes.
Preliminary investigations, according to the military, indicate that the suspect was allegedly on her way to Gezuwa to establish contact with four of her children believed to be members of a terrorist group.
The military said the suspect has since been handed over to relevant authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution.
In another intelligence-led follow-up operation, troops under Sector 2 of Operation Hadin Kai, supported by military intelligence operatives, arrested two additional suspects identified as Bakura, 18, and Adiza, 17, in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.
The arrests, Uba said, were linked to an earlier operation involving the interception of a suspected ammunition courier, Ba’akaka Abubakar, also known as Modogol, who was allegedly making arrangements to supply ammunition to terrorists operating in the Sambisa Forest.
Preliminary findings revealed that Adiza had allegedly been assigned to collect ammunition from the earlier suspect for onward delivery to a terrorist commander.
The military said all suspects are currently in custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the network and recover the ammunition intended for delivery.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying operations aimed at dismantling terrorist cells, rescuing abducted civilians, and restoring lasting peace across the North-East, while the military high command commended the troops for their professionalism, courage, and resilience in the fight against insurgency.
