Troops Foil Mass Abduction, Rescue Over 150 Civilians in Borno

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have rescued more than 150 civilians during an operation in Borno State, preventing what could have been a large-scale abduction.

The development was confirmed by the operation’s spokesperson, Sani Uba, in a statement released on Tuesday.

According to him, the victims—comprising men, women, and children—were recovered and taken to Buratai, where arrangements are being made to reunite them with their families.

Uba explained that the incident occurred on March 30 along the Buratai–Kamuya axis in Biu Local Government Area, when troops escorting civilians came under attack by insurgents.

During the confrontation, surveillance operations revealed that the attackers were attempting to force the civilians into about 17 vehicles for abduction.

He noted that a swift response by a Quick Reaction Force helped repel the attackers and triggered a pursuit towards the Mangari area. Under pressure from advancing troops, the insurgents abandoned both the captives and the vehicles, effectively foiling the kidnapping attempt.

However, five soldiers sustained serious injuries during the operation and are currently receiving medical treatment. The troops also encountered an improvised explosive device along the Bula Zarma–Mangari route during follow-up actions.

Borno State remains a major hotspot for insurgent activity, with increased attacks in recent times involving both Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), targeting civilians and military formations across the region.

Security forces say operations are ongoing to dismantle terrorist networks and prevent further attacks.