Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have successfully rescued 47 persons, mostly women and children, who were held captive by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Kangarwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, the military announced on Monday. The operation, which took place on June 20, 2026, was part of sustained ground and air offensives targeting ISWAP enclaves in the Lake Chad region.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Acting Media Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the rescue was made possible through relentless military pressure that forced the terrorists to abandon their positions in confusion. “The successful rescue operation was made possible through sustained aggressive pressure and relentless offensive operations conducted by OPHK troops against ISWAP enclaves in the Lake Chad region,” the statement read. “The unrelenting ground and air offensives forced the terrorists to abandon their positions in confusion, enabling the victims to escape from prolonged captivity,” Goni added. As at June 23 Stone Reporters is still in constant communication with the sources as regards further developments.
The rescued persons are currently receiving medical attention at a secure location, with humanitarian support being provided in coordination with relevant agencies to facilitate their eventual reintegration into society. The military said the rescue highlights the commitment of Operation HADIN KAI troops to not only degrade terrorist capabilities but also to secure the release of innocent civilians held against their will.
Kangarwa, a village in Kukawa LGA, lies in the Lake Chad basin, a region that has been a flashpoint for ISWAP and Boko Haram activity for over a decade. The Lake Chad region, which spans Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, has been the theatre of a protracted insurgency that has displaced thousands and led to the abduction of countless civilians. In recent months, the military has intensified operations across the basin and the Sambisa axis as part of efforts to weaken terrorist networks and secure affected communities.
The Theatre Command reaffirmed its resolve to sustain offensive operations, dismantle remaining ISWAP networks and restore peace and normalcy across the North-East region. The rescue of the 47 captives is the latest in a series of successful operations by troops in the region, following the earlier rescue of 416 abducted residents of Ngoshe community in Gwoza LGA.
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