A wave of military operations in the North East has led to the rescue of kidnapped women and children, alongside multiple arrests linked to suspected terrorist networks, marking a tense but significant turn in ongoing counterinsurgency efforts.
Nigerian military forces operating under the Joint Task Force (North East), known as Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have rescued six abducted women and children and detained a number of suspected terrorist collaborators in a series of operations across the North East region.
The operations, carried out under the ongoing Operation DESERT SANITY, were announced in a statement by OPHK’s Media Information Officer, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba.
According to the statement, troops acting on reliable intelligence conducted a coordinated mission near Amuda on May 12, following an air interdiction around the Mandara Mountains.
The rescued victims were identified as Aisha Musa (18), Aisha Mohammed (17), Fatima Yahaya (20), Saudatu Musa (4), Garba Mohammed (5), and a three-month-old infant, Mohammed Yahaya.
All six had been among residents of Ngoshe community who were abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists during an attack on March 3, 2026.
They were promptly taken to a military medical facility for treatment before being reunited with their families through the community’s Bulama, Mallam Adamu Gunda.
In a separate but related development on the same day, troops stationed at Tango 7 in Konduga Local Government Area arrested a 40-year-old woman, Hauwa Bulama, on suspicion of having ties to terrorist groups.
Items found on her included detergent, soap, a torchlight, and seasoning cubes.
Investigators believe she was on her way to meet four of her children who are allegedly members of a terrorist organization.
She has since been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further questioning and possible prosecution.
Additionally, troops from Sector 2 OPHK, working alongside military intelligence personnel, arrested two more suspects Bakura (18) and Adiza (17) in Damaturu, in connection with an earlier interception of a suspected ammunition courier identified as Ba’akaka Abubakar, also known as Modogol.
Preliminary findings suggest that Adiza had been tasked with collecting the ammunition from the courier for delivery to a terrorist commander.
Both suspects remain in custody while the military continues efforts to track down the commander and recover the intercepted ammunition.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks, rescuing civilians, and restoring lasting peace across the North East.
The military high command also commended its troops for their professionalism and resilience in the ongoing fight against insurgency.