Two Infants Die As Troops Rescue 360 Abducted Civilians In Borno

Troops of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with Special Operations Forces, have rescued about 360 civilians abducted by terrorists from Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

Naija News reports that the rescued victims were mostly women and children.

Military sources who spoke with Vanguard said the operation was conducted on June 6 across several locations around the Mandara Mountains.

According to the sources, Special Operations Forces first carried out preliminary missions that disrupted terrorist camps in the area.

The operation created the conditions for troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade to extract the captives.

The victims were among residents abducted during an attack on the Ngoshe community on March 3, 2026.

Earlier updates from Operation Hadin Kai had indicated that some of the captives were rescued during previous operations in the Mandara Mountains, an area believed to serve as a hideout for insurgents.

Two Infants Die During Rescue

The latest operation, however, recorded a tragic setback as two infants reportedly died during the rescue effort.

Sources said the deaths occurred because of the difficult terrain encountered while evacuating victims to safety.

A military source said all rescued persons received immediate medical screening upon arrival.

“Those requiring urgent medical attention were stabilised by brigade medical personnel and admitted to the General Hospital, Gwoza, for treatment,” the source said.

The rescued civilians were also provided with food, water and other relief materials.

They were later moved to a secure holding facility pending their handover to relevant authorities and reunification with their families.

Security sources described the operation as a major humanitarian and operational success in efforts to rescue civilians and weaken terrorist networks in remote parts of the North-East.

They added that although the security situation in the area remained relatively calm, troops would continue to maintain vigilance and operational readiness.