Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has lavished praise on President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian military for the rescue of 360 abductees from a Boko Haram enclave in the Mandara Mountains, even as the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), Samaila Kaigama, insisted that all 416 women and children abducted from Ngoshe community three months ago were released through his group's sustained mediation. The conflicting accounts emerged on Sunday, June 7, 2026, creating confusion over the true fate of the captives.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, Governor Zulum described the military operation as a remarkable demonstration of courage, professionalism, and the growing effectiveness of intelligence-led military operations in the fight against insurgency in the North-East. He said the mission, which led to the safe recovery of hundreds of men, women, and children held captive by terrorists, has renewed hope among affected communities and reaffirmed the commitment of the federal government, Nigerian military, and Borno State government to safeguarding lives and restoring lasting peace in the region. Zulum expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chief of Defense Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI, and all officers and soldiers who participated in what he called a highly successful operation. “Their gallantry, professionalism, and sacrifice have once again demonstrated the unwavering commitment of our Armed Forces to protecting innocent citizens,” Zulum stated. “The rescue of 360 abductees from the Boko Haram stronghold is a significant achievement. It underscores the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration, and the determination of our security forces to ensure that no citizen is abandoned in the hands of insurgents and terrorists.”
Governor Zulum revealed that he had first visited the people of Ngoshe on March 6, 2026, and two weeks later spent the night with displaced victims in Pulka town, Gwoza Local Government Area, where he assured them of the federal and Borno State governments' commitment to securing the release of those still being held captive. He also visited Ngoshe town, where he directed the immediate assessment and reconstruction of destroyed houses to ensure that inhabitants taking refuge in Pulka could return to their ancestral home. Zulum further commended members of local communities for their support, understanding, and cooperation, which contributed to the operation's success. He reaffirmed Borno State Government's commitment to continue supporting the military and other security agencies through logistics to sustain their momentum in counter-insurgency operations. The governor also urged residents of Mussa in Askira-Uba Local Government Area to keep hope alive, as the government remains committed to securing the release of schoolchildren abducted there.
According to the military, the rescue operation was carried out on Saturday, June 6, 2026, by troops of Operation HADIN KAI in conjunction with Special Operations Forces, who assaulted a Boko Haram enclave hidden deep within the Mandara Mountains in southern Borno State. The victims, mostly women and children abducted from communities around the Ngoshe axis, were freed during a coordinated, intelligence-led operation conducted by Special Forces and troops of Sector One. The Acting Media Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Lieutenant Colonel Haruna M. Sani, said the operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance, which enabled troops to identify the location of the hostages and launch a coordinated assault on the insurgents' hideout. Several terrorists fled upon sighting the advancing troops, while others surrendered as the forces secured the area and rescued the captives. However, the operation recorded a tragic setback, as two infants died from exhaustion caused by the harsh conditions they endured in captivity and the difficult terrain encountered during evacuation.
Countering the military's version, BOSYA President Samaila Kaigama told journalists on Sunday that his group had secured the release of all 416 women and children abducted from Ngoshe through sustained engagement and advocacy. “BOSYA has secured the release of all the Ngoshe 416 women and children. They were released on June 6,” Kaigama said. According to Kaigama, BOSYA had maintained communication with the media and acted as an intermediary between the insurgents and the affected victims since the abductees were first displayed by the terrorist group in April. “We are happy and grateful that through our efforts, our persistent cries, and long discussions, the results are now being seen,” he added. He urged the Federal Government, the Borno State Government, and the relevant local government authorities to immediately carry out proper screening and provide necessary support for the released captives before they are reunited with their communities.
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South) also weighed in on the matter, commending the Nigerian military, the Borno State Government, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for their roles in the release. In a statement issued on Sunday following the rescue operation carried out by troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Ndume said, “Alhamdulillah, all the Ngoshe captives have been released.” The senator noted that the captives were abducted on March 3, 2026, when suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked Ngoshe, burning operational vehicles, dispersing security forces, killing an unspecified number of people, and abducting scores of residents. Security forces had subsequently rescued some of the victims during separate operations around the Mandara Mountains before the latest rescue effort. Ndume praised the military and other stakeholders for their contributions to the victims' safe return, singling out the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, and the Commander of the 26 Task Force Brigade, Gwoza. He also lauded Governor Zulum for his support to the military and ongoing efforts to rebuild Ngoshe and assist affected residents.
The mass abduction occurred on March 3, 2026, when suspected Boko Haram terrorists from the Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad (JAS) faction attacked a military base in Ngoshe. The attackers set operational vehicles ablaze, forced security personnel to retreat, killed an unspecified number of people, and abducted scores of residents, primarily women and children. The remote community, located near the Mandara Mountains along Nigeria's border with Cameroon, has long served as a Boko Haram stronghold and has come under repeated attack over the years. In April 2026, Boko Haram issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian government through BOSYA, demanding N5 billion for the release of the captives. The threat was delivered in a video in which terrorists dared the government to attempt a forceful rescue. The group later agreed to a conditional release of 50 women and children, but the fate of the remaining captives remained unclear.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, were unsuccessful, as several calls placed to his phone went unanswered. The military has not issued any statement regarding Kaigama's claim, nor has it offered an explanation for the discrepancy between its figure of 360 rescued captives and BOSYA's insistence that all 416 were released. Information on whether any conditions were attached to the release or if negotiations preceded the development has not yet been made public.
Despite the conflicting accounts, families of the captives have expressed immense relief. Local sources said the freed individuals include men, women, and children who had been in captivity for varying periods. The rescued victims have since been relocated to secure facilities where they are receiving medical attention and humanitarian support. While celebrating the rescue, Ndume urged security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of other victims still being held captive, including more than 40 pupils reportedly abducted from schools in Mussa village, Askira-Uba Local Government Area. Governor Zulum, for his part, called on people of the state to remain vigilant, cooperate with security agencies, and continue providing credible information to assist ongoing operations aimed at eliminating criminal activities across the state. Whether the freed captives number 360 as the military insists or 416 as BOSYA claims, the safe return of hundreds of women and children from a Boko Haram hellhole brings an end to a three-month nightmare for the people of Ngoshe, even as the mystery over the conflicting accounts may well linger far beyond Sunday's celebrations.
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