Army rescues mother, infant as insurgent family members surrender in Mandara mountains
Abdullateef Fowewe
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, have rescued a woman and her baby.
A statement obtained from the Nigerian Army on Thursday also revealed that the troops stepped up offensive operations that forced several insurgent family members to flee and surrender.
“The Headquarters, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) continues to intensify offensive and stabilisation operations across the Theatre, leading to the rescue of abducted civilians, neutralisation of terrorists, and increased surrender of insurgents’ family members,” the statement said.
The statement said soldiers intercepted and rescued Maryam Muhammad, 20, and her son Bello, 1 year and 4 months, who were kidnapped during the March 3 attack on Ngoshe.
Troops found they had been held in a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains and escaped after intense fire missions forced their captors to abandon them.
After a medical check they were reunited with family through Ngoshe community leaders.
Forces operating in Wulgo, Gumsari and Hausari discovered makeshift terrorist medical facilities, 7.62mm ammunition, and a uniform belonging to a terrorist Amir, the statement added.
One insurgent was neutralised and no military casualties were reported.
The JTF also said sustained pressure prompted family members to flee insurgent camps.
At the Gwoza axis, a 50-year-old woman, Ghwa’a Biwa, surrendered to 192 Battalion.
Two others — Binta Umaru, 19, and her 2-year-old daughter, Hafsat Ibrahim — surrendered along the Gwoza–Limankara road.
All surrendered individuals were screened, documented and are undergoing profiling.
“These developments underscore the effectiveness of ongoing offensive operations and the gradual collapse of terrorist support structures within the Theatre,” the statement said, adding that the military remains committed to rescuing abducted civilians and restoring security in the North East.
