Nigerian Army troops have rescued four civilians who had reportedly spent about three years in captivity under Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Borno State.
The victims, comprising two women, a teenage boy and a young man, were rescued around 6am on Friday in the Kukawa Local Government Area of the state.
The operation followed intelligence reports indicating the movement of suspected terrorist escapees around Kauwa village. Acting on the information, troops launched a search-and-rescue operation that led to the discovery of the captives.
Counter-insurgency analyst Zagazola Makama said the victims were abducted from Mafa Local Government Area about three years ago before being taken to the Dogon Chuku terrorist camp, where they were held until their rescue.
Following their recovery, the civilians were provided with food and subjected to preliminary profiling by the troops before being transferred to the 19 Brigade Medical Centre for medical attention and further assessment.
Inside Borno state:
Military Destroys Two Terrorist-Planted IEDs in Borno
Troops Record Fresh Success as 17 ISWAP Family Members Surrender in Borno
25-Year-Old ISWAP Fighter Renounces Terrorism, Surrenders to Nigerian Troops in Borno
The rescue highlights growing reliance on intelligence-driven operations in the military’s campaign against insurgency in the North-East.
Troops under Operation Hadin Kai, alongside the Multinational Joint Task Force, have continued conducting clearance, search-and-rescue and counter-insurgency operations across the Lake Chad Basin.
The military has intensified efforts to identify terrorist hideouts, movement routes and supply networks in a bid to weaken insurgent groups and rescue civilians trapped in areas controlled by terrorists.
The latest operation comes amid continued military offensives against Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters across Borno State and other parts of the North-East.
About The Author
