Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
TROOPS from the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI have rescued six abducted women and children in a pre-dawn operation, reuniting them with their families in an emotional ceremony in Ngoshe community, Gwoza Local Government Area.
The rescue took place in the early hours of 1 May 2026, near Amuda – a stretch of deserted ground between Ngoshe and Gava notorious for terrorist transit activity. Soldiers, acting on credible intelligence and returning from a successful overnight offensive, intercepted the group as they attempted to flee captivity.
The rescued victims have been named as Mrs Zainab Idris (18), Fatima Abubakar (17), Maimuna Abdulrashid (24), Muhammad Idris (1), Sadiq Abdullahi (7), and Fatima Abdulrashid (5).
According to military sources, the six were originally abducted during a terrorist attack on Ngoshe on 3 March 2026 and had been held in an enclave in Gava before managing to escape. As they fled, the terrorists opened sporadic fire in a bid to recapture them. Troops returned fire decisively, forcing the insurgents to retreat into the mountainous Mandara range.
The successful rescue follows a string of sustained offensive actions, including air interdiction missions targeting terrorist hideouts in the Mandara Mountains. Intelligence suggests the terrorist network is increasingly in disarray, with falling morale and mounting paranoia after suffering heavy losses and the escape of several captives – including a 16-year-old girl said to have been forced into marriage with a terrorist commander.
After the operation, the six survivors were given immediate first aid and medical checks at a military facility. Later that afternoon, at around 2pm, they were formally handed over to community leaders. An emotional reunion followed, witnessed by local residents and facilitated by the Wali of Ngoshe, Alhaji Shuaibu Dabawa.
The Military High Command has praised the troops for what it called “impressive battle performance”, urging them to maintain aggressive operations across the North East.
In a statement released late Thursday, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force, reassured the public of the armed forces’ unwavering commitment to securing communities and eliminating terrorist elements.
“Troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remain high as operations continue with renewed vigour,” the statement read. “Members of the public are encouraged to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing military operations.”
No casualties were reported among the rescue team. Operations in the Mandara Mountains region are said to be continuing.
