Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have rescued 31 civilians after foiling a terrorist abduction attempt along the Buratai–Kamuya Road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.
The operation, carried out at about 3:45 p.m. on July 31, followed intelligence gathered through real-time surveillance, which revealed that suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists had intercepted four civilian vehicles and abducted their occupants.
According to a statement by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion, Dutsen Kura, immediately deployed a Quick Response Force to pursue the fleeing insurgents towards the Mangari–Dora axis.
The troops reportedly engaged the terrorists in a gun battle, forcing them to abandon the abducted civilians and the four vehicles before fleeing into the surrounding bush.
He said that during the operation, the troops also recovered motorcycles abandoned by the fleeing terrorists, stating that all 31 abducted civilians were rescued unharmed, while the four vehicles were recovered intact.
Following the rescue, the troops conducted further clearance operations in the area to prevent the insurgents from regrouping. No further contact with the terrorists was reported.
The rescued victims and recovered vehicles were later escorted to Buratai, where the owners reclaimed their vehicles and continued their journey safely.
The military said the operation highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations in protecting civilians and disrupting terrorist activities. It added that the Joint Task Force remains committed to sustaining offensive operations aimed at eliminating terrorist elements and securing communities and major transportation routes across the North-East.
