Army rescues 74 NYSC members stranded in Borno
Abdullateef Fowewe
Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) North East Operation HADIN KAI successfully rescued 74 stranded National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members along the Buratai–Kamuya road in Borno State, the Nigerian Army announced in a statement on Thursday.
The incident occurred around 9:05 pm on Tuesday when “the corps members’ vehicles broke down near a forested area known as Borko Haram crossing point.”
The vigilant troops, monitoring the area via a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system, “immediately activated a heavy patrol team to the location.”
On arrival, the troops found “74 corps members, comprising 36 males and 38 females, stranded after their vehicles developed mechanical faults.”
The rescue operation also prevented a potential abduction attempt by terrorists known to operate in the vicinity.
Preliminary reports revealed the corps members had been escorted from Maiduguri to Damaturu by military personnel but “continued their journey to Hawul Local Government Area without notifying Sector 2 Headquarters or obtaining an armed escort from the security agencies.”
The rescued members are now “safely evacuated and currently being accommodated at the Buratai Military Base” as arrangements are made for their onward travel.
The Nigerian Army thereby affirmed its commitment to protecting citizens, stating it will “continue to maintain a strong security presence across operational theatres to deny terrorists freedom of action and ensure lasting peace in the North East.” The public is urged to support these efforts by cooperating with troops in the region.
