The Nigerian Army has secured the rescue of at least 55 people kidnaped by bandits in Borno State.
The rescued persons which had 48 adults of 20 men and 28 women as well as five children, regained freedom after troops of Operation HADIN KAI engaged in a clash with kidnappers which side led to recovery of items from the terrorists.
The successful military intervention also led to the recovery of eight vehicles abandoned during the incident, while all the rescued civilians were safely evacuated without any casualties.
It was gathered that the operation occurred at about 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday along the Buratai–Kamuya road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State after troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion deployed at Echo 1, Dutse Kura, detected the terrorists’ activities.
A military source on Friday said the operation was launched after soldiers detected suspicious movements by the terrorists through surveillance assets.
Acting on the intelligence, a Quick Response Force was immediately dispatched to confront the insurgents and prevent them from carrying out further attacks on road users.
According to the source, troops swiftly moved against the armed group and engaged in a gun battle forcing the terrorists to abandon their position and flee.
The soldiers subsequently pursued the fleeing insurgents and engaged them in more firefight, compelling them to retreat from the area.
“The prompt response of the troops ensured that dozens of civilians were rescued and the terrorists were prevented from carrying out their plans,” the military source said.
Following the rescue mission, soldiers advanced several kilometres along the route used by the fleeing insurgents to ensure the area was free of threats.
Extensive searches were also conducted to guarantee the safety of motorists and other road users.
The military source confirmed that the rescued travellers and recovered vehicles were escorted to Buratai, where the civilians were able to continue their journeys.
“No personnel casualty or equipment loss was recorded during the operation, and troops remain committed to maintaining security across the theatre,” the source said.
Furthermore, the source noted that the operation highlights the continued efforts of Operation HADIN KAI to secure critical transportation corridors and protect civilians from terrorist activities across the North-East.
He added that although the security environment remains generally calm, troops remain vigilant and prepared to respond to emerging threats across the region.