Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Army has announced the rescue of six women and children who were abducted by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Ngoshe village, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, marking another operational success in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign in the North-East. The military said the rescue took place in the early hours of May 1, 2026, when troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), intercepted the victims around Amuda, a deserted area between Ngoshe and Gava known for terrorist transit activities.
According to a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the rescue followed sustained offensive actions, including recent air interdiction missions targeting terrorist enclaves in the Mandara Mountains. He said acting on credible intelligence, troops were returning from a successful overnight offensive operation when they encountered the six abducted civilians. “The rescued victims were identified as Mrs. Zainab Idris (18), Fatima Abubakar (17), Maimuna Abdulrashid (24), Muhammad Idris (1), Sadiq Abdullahi (7), and Fatima Abdulrashid (5),” Lt. Col. Uba said in the statement.
The army explained that preliminary debriefings revealed the victims were among the residents abducted during a terrorist attack on Ngoshe community on March 3, 2026. They had been held in captivity at a terrorist enclave in Gava before managing to escape. As they fled, the abductors attempted to recapture them. “During the rescue, troops came under sporadic enemy fire as fleeing terrorists attempted to pursue the escapees. The troops responded decisively, engaging the terrorists in a brief exchange of fire, forcing them to withdraw into the mountainous terrain,” the statement added.
Following the rescue, the military said the victims were immediately given first aid and medical checks at a military facility before being formally handed over to community authorities. At about 1400 hours the same day, they were reunited with their families through the Wali of Ngoshe, Alhaji Shuaibu Dabawa, in an emotional ceremony witnessed by community members.
Lt. Col. Uba said the successful rescue operation is directly linked to intensified operational pressure on terrorist elements, which has significantly degraded their cohesion and heightened internal disarray. “Intelligence indicates that the terrorists are increasingly desperate and paranoid, following sustained losses and the escape of captives, including a 16-year-old girl who had been forcefully married to one of their commanders,” the spokesman explained.
The military high command reiterated its commitment to securing communities and eliminating terrorist elements in the North-East. “The Armed Forces of Nigeria reassure the public of their unwavering commitment to securing all communities, rescuing abducted persons, and eliminating terrorist elements from all enclaves across the North East region,” the statement read. “Troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remain high as operations continue with renewed vigour.”
The army also called on residents to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing military operations, in the security, peace and economic interest of the North East region. The Military High Command commended the troops for their impressive battle performance and urged them to sustain aggressive operations to dominate the battlespace.
The rescue comes weeks after a Boko Haram faction issued a 72-hour ultimatum and demanded a N5 billion ransom for the release of over 400 women and children abducted from Ngoshe in March, an incident that has drawn widespread international condemnation.
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