Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Borno State — In a significant development amidst rising insurgent activity in northeastern Nigeria, troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation HADIN KAI have successfully rescued two civilians, including a serving local councillor and an Islamic cleric, who were abducted by suspected terrorists along a notorious highway in Borno State. The operation also continues as security forces intensify efforts to locate five other civilians still in captivity following a separate abduction incident earlier this week.
The military rescue was launched after insurgents ambushed travellers on the Buni Gari–Buratai road on Tuesday evening, a stretch of highway long plagued by attacks and kidnappings. Seven civilians, including local government officials and other passengers, were seized by armed men widely believed to be members of Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during the assault.
In the early hours following the abduction, troops from the 27 Task Force Brigade and the 135 Special Forces Battalion, with support from the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), initiated a coordinated search-and-rescue mission along the surrounding forested areas where the victims were believed to have been taken. Their rapid response was credited with locating and securing the release of two of the kidnapped civilians around Mangari village, where they had been left behind by their captors upon detecting the advancing troops.
The freed victims were identified as Alhaji Mohammed Ali Maiakachi, a serving councillor representing Zera/Wuyep Ward in Biu Local Government Area, and Mallam Aliyu Yusuf, a respected Islamic scholar and Chairman of Shuaaraul Islam in Borno State. Following their rescue, both were immediately taken to a medical reception station for urgent treatment before being reunited with their families in Biu.
Despite the success, security sources confirmed that five other abductees remain in the hands of the terrorists, according to information provided by the rescued victims. Among those still missing are the immediate past and current Vice Chairmen of Biu Local Government Area, along with three women who were travelling at the time of the attack.
Troops pursued the fleeing insurgents for several kilometres after discovering the abandoned captives, but there was no direct engagement. Security forces have since heightened patrols and expanded their search radius, deploying additional resources and intelligence assets to locate and liberate the remaining abducted persons.
The rescue highlights the challenges faced by communities and security agencies in Borno, where key roads continue to draw repeated attacks by Islamist militants targeting both officials and civilians. The Kamuya–Buni Yadi–Buratai corridor where the initial abduction occurred remains one of the most dangerous transit routes in the region, with numerous reports of ambushes, kidnappings and fatalities in recent years.
Officials within the military and state government have yet to issue a full statement on the ongoing operations, but the swift rescue of the councillor and cleric has been welcomed by local leaders as a sign of the army’s commitment to protecting lives and restoring security in insurgency-affected areas. Residents and analysts, however, continue to urge sustained and more robust efforts to safeguard transit routes and rural communities, stressing that the safety of public servants and ordinary citizens is critical to the return of normalcy.
As the search continues, family members of the other abductees and local advocacy groups have called on the federal and state governments to intensify pressure on insurgent networks and expedite rescue operations. Many have also appealed for improved security infrastructure along vulnerable highways, including enhanced military presence, community intelligence programmes and safer travel protocols for motorists.
The evolving situation in Borno underscores the persistent threat posed by armed groups in northeastern Nigeria despite ongoing counter-insurgency campaigns, and highlights the precarious environment in which civilians, including elected officials, continue to live and travel.
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