Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Joint Task Force North East, have rescued 86 kidnap victims and arrested 29 suspects allegedly involved in supplying logistics to terrorists during counter-insurgency operations in Borno State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Sunday.
Uba said troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion, under Sector 2 OPHK, engaged Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on November 9, 2025, at Dutse Kura, following reports that insurgents were abducting civilians and vehicles along the Buratai–Kamuya Road.
“The troops thwarted the attack, pursued the terrorists towards Mangari, and overpowered them in a follow-up encounter near a camp, forcing the insurgents to flee in disarray,” Uba said.
He added that a search of the area led to the rescue of 86 kidnapped victims, including men, women, and children, and the discovery of 11 makeshift terrorist structures.
Recovered items included one AK-47 rifle, five magazines containing 73 rounds, four PKT ammunition belts, five civilian vehicles, five motorcycles, eight bicycles, and two logistics tricycles. The terrorists’ camp was subsequently destroyed in situ after clearance operations.
In a related operation, troops deployed at Mangada arrested 29 suspected terrorist logistics suppliers en route to Chilaria. The suspects were transporting several items believed to be intended for insurgents.
Recovered from them were two pickup vans and a tricycle loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) — about 1,000 litres of petrol in jerricans — as well as four gallons of engine oil, two new gun truck tyres, medical supplies, and large quantities of foodstuffs and provisions.
“All operations were conducted successfully with no casualties on the part of our troops,” Uba said. “The Military High Command commended the gallantry and professionalism of the troops and charged Operation Hadin Kai to sustain efforts to deny terrorists freedom of action across the North East theatre.”
