Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully rescued two mothers and their children who were abducted during terrorist attacks in Borno State. The rescued individuals include Maryam Muhammad, a 20-year-old woman, and her son, as well as Binta Umaru, 19, and her daughter, Hafsat Ibrahim, 2.
Rescue Operations in Mandara Mountains
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed the developments in a statement on Thursday, June 4, 2026. According to the statement, the rescues occurred during ongoing operations aimed at securing communities and freeing captives held by insurgents in the Mandara Mountains axis.
Maryam Muhammad told security personnel that she and her son had been held captive in a terrorist enclave controlled by a commander known as Saha. She explained that they managed to escape after their captors abandoned them following sustained military bombardment and intensified fire missions targeting terrorist hideouts in the area.
Additional Surrenders and Rescues
Similarly, Binta Umaru and her daughter escaped from another terrorist enclave and surrendered to troops deployed along the Gwoza–Limankara road. The statement noted that the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, under Operation Desert Sanity V/Siege Operations, continues to intensify offensive and stabilization operations across the theatre, leading to the rescue of abducted civilians, neutralization of terrorists, and increased surrender of insurgents' family members.
In a major humanitarian breakthrough, troops conducting offensive operations in the Amuda general area intercepted and rescued the two abductees from Ngoshe community. The victims were identified as Mrs. Maryam Muhammad (20 years) and her son, Bello Muhammad (1 year and 4 months), who were among those abducted during the terrorist attack on Ngoshe on March 3, 2026.
Reunification with Families
Preliminary debrief revealed that the victims were held at a terrorist enclave within the Mandara Mountains before managing to escape following intense fire missions on terrorist hideouts, which forced their captors to abandon them. After initial medical assessment, the rescued victims were safely reunited with their family members through the Ngoshe community leadership.
All surrendered individuals have been properly screened, documented, and are currently in custody undergoing further profiling in line with established procedures. These developments underscore the effectiveness of ongoing offensive operations and the gradual collapse of terrorist support structures within the theatre, particularly around the Mandara Mountains and border communities.
Military Commitment to Security
The Joint Task Force reassures the public of its utmost commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorists, rescuing abducted civilians, and restoring lasting security, peace, and economic stability in the North East region. The Military High Command commends the troops for their impressive battle performance, urging them to sustain the operational tempo in the collective interest of national security.
