By Abubakar H. Muhammad (9News Nigeria, Northeast)
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI have rescued six abducted women and children from Ngoshe community after intercepting them around Mandara Mountain.
The victims were rescued in the early hours of 1 May 2026 as troops returned from an overnight offensive operation.
Acting on credible intelligence, troops intercepted the six escapees around Amuda, a deserted area between Ngoshe and Gava known for terrorist transit activities.
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.
Preliminary debriefings revealed they were abducted during a terrorist attack on Ngoshe community on 3 March 2026 and had been held in a terrorist enclave in Gava before escaping.
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 and forcing them to withdraw into the mountainous terrain.
The operation followed sustained offensive actions, including recent air interdiction missions targeting terrorist enclaves in the Mandara Mountains.
Intelligence indicates that intensified operational pressure has degraded terrorist cohesion, leaving them increasingly desperate and paranoid after sustained losses and the escape of captives.
Among recent escapes was a 16-year-old girl who had been forcefully married to a terrorist commander.
The rescued victims received first aid and medical checks at a military facility before being 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.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria reassured the public of their commitment to securing communities, rescuing abducted persons, and eliminating terrorist elements from all enclaves across the North East.
The Military High Command commended the troops for their performance and urged them to sustain aggressive operations to dominate the battlespace.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for Operation HADIN KAI, confirmed the rescue in a statement issued on 1 May 2026.
He encouraged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing military operations.
