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As Families of Insurgents Surrender
- Safiu Kehinde
Troops attached to the North East Joint Task Force, also known as, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have rescued a kidnapped 20-year-old mother and her one-year-old son during a raid on terrorists’ enclave in Borno State.
The troops had, in the multiple offensive operations codenamed Operation DESERT SANITY, rescued the lady identified as Maryam Muhammad and her son, Bello Mohammed at Amuda general area.
This was made known in a statement issued on Thursday by the OPHK Media Information Officer, Lt. Col. Sani Uba.
According to Sani, the mother and child were abducted from Ngoshe community on the 3rd of March 2026 and held captive at the terrorists’ enclave within the Mandara Mountains.
“In a major humanitarian breakthrough, troops of OPHK, while conducting offensive operations at Amuda general area, successfully intercepted and rescued two abductees from Ngoshe community.
“The victims, identified as Mrs Maryam Muhammad (20 years) and her infant son, Bello Muhammad (1 year and 4 months), were among those abducted during the terrorist attack on Ngoshe on 3 March 2026.
“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.” The statement read.
In a related development, troops of OPHK deployed at Wulgo and the proposed COP Jagarawaji also recorded success in their intensive offensive operations in Wulgo, Gumsari, and Hausari general areas.
They neutralised on terrorist suspect during the offensive operation, conducted in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force elements.
Also recorded was the surrender of some families of the insurgents.
“During the operations, several indicators of terrorist presence and sustenance were discovered, including makeshift terrorist medical facilities equipped with transfusion materials and antibiotics, rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and a uniform belonging to a terrorist Amir.
“Troops also neutralised one terrorist during the operation, with no casualties recorded on own forces.
“Additionally, sustained military pressure continues to compel family members of terrorists to flee from enclaves and surrender to own troops.” Sani wrote.
According to the army spokesperson, one female family member identified as Ghwa’a Biwa (50 years) escaped from a terrorist camp in the Mandara Mountains at Gwoza area and surrendered to troops of 192 Battalion.
She cited persistent military operations and lack of basic necessities within the camps as key reasons for her escape.
Similarly, two additional family members, identified as Binta Umaru (19 years) and her daughter, Hafsat Ibrahim (twi years), escaped from another terrorist enclave within the Mandara Mountains and surrendered to troops deployed along Gwoza–Limankara road.
All surrendered individuals have been properly screened, documented, and are currently in custody undergoing further profiling in line with established procedures.
The developments, according to Sani, 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.
The Joint Task Force reassured 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.