Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have recorded a significant breakthrough in Borno State, securing the surrender of two teenage members of a terrorist group and rescuing an 11-year-old girl who had been abducted for a spying mission, while also arresting a 60-year-old suspected ISWAP spy in a coordinated intelligence-led operation.
The two teenagers, identified as 17-year-old Umar Mohammed and 13-year-old Aliu Hassan, surrendered to troops of Sector 3 Operation Hadin Kai at approximately 7:15 a.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026, at Charlie 7 in Monguno town, Borno State. According to security sources, the pair had escaped from a terrorist camp in Martab, Marte Local Government Area, citing harsh living conditions at the camp as the reason for their decision to abandon the group. The teenagers surrendered with a wristwatch and a catapult, and they are currently in the custody of the Headquarters Sector 3 Military Intelligence Branch for further interrogation and necessary action.
In a separate development, troops of the 82 Division Task Force Battalion rescued an 11-year-old girl identified as Aisha Mustafa, who had been abducted from her community for a suspected spying mission. The rescue occurred at about 1:41 a.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026, during a routine patrol around the Armuda general area in Gwoza Local Government Area. According to sources, the girl was among three persons allegedly taken from Mountain Village of Saha by two suspected terrorists. Preliminary investigation indicated that the terrorists allegedly intended to use the victims to monitor the activities of troops deployed around Ngoshe. Upon sighting the troops, Aisha reportedly fled towards them and surrendered, while the other two individuals fled back towards the village. The rescued girl is currently receiving necessary assistance as efforts are ongoing to reunite her with her family members.
Additionally, troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion arrested a 60-year-old man suspected of being an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) spy along the Cross-Kukawa road in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. The suspect, identified as Mallam Garba Audi, was arrested at about 9:55 a.m. on Thursday, September 3, 2026, following human intelligence indicating the possible movement of an ISWAP spy from Monguno towards Kukawa. Acting on the information, troops intensified surveillance and arrested Audi, who was reportedly found wandering aimlessly along the Cross-Kukawa road. During preliminary investigation, the suspect claimed to have lost his way from Digimari in northern Borno. Troops recovered cement bags containing clothing and mosquito nets from the suspect. The suspect and recovered items are currently in military custody and are to be transferred to the 19 Military Intelligence Regiment for further investigation.
The surrender of the two teenagers and the rescue of the 11-year-old girl come amid a sustained wave of defections from terrorist groups in Nigeria's North-East. According to Defence Headquarters figures, more than 100,000 people, the overwhelming majority of them women and children, have surrendered to Operation Hadin Kai since July 2021. The latest surrenders highlight the effectiveness of the military's strategy of combining offensive operations with efforts to encourage members of terrorist groups to abandon violence and surrender to authorities. As troops continue to intensify operations across the region, the hope is that more fighters will lay down their arms, and more captives will be freed from the grip of terror.
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