Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have foiled a terrorist abduction attempt and rescued 31 civilians during a military operation along the Buratai–Kamuya Road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, saying the operation was carried out on Friday, July 31, 2026.
According to the statement, troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion, Dutsen Kura, detected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists through real-time surveillance systems as they intercepted four civilian vehicles and abducted their occupants at about 3:45 p.m.
“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the battalion deployed a Quick Response Force in pursuit of the terrorists as they fled towards the Mangari–Dora general area,” Goni said.
He added that the troops engaged the insurgents in a firefight, forcing them to abandon the abducted civilians and the four vehicles before escaping into the surrounding bushes.
The military spokesman said the troops recovered motorcycles abandoned by the fleeing terrorists, while all 31 abducted civilians were rescued unharmed and the four vehicles were recovered intact.
“Following the successful rescue, troops dominated the general area and conducted further exploitation to deny the terrorists any opportunity to regroup. No further contact was made during the operation,” he said.
Goni added that the rescued civilians and recovered vehicles were escorted to Buratai, where the victims were reunited with their vehicles and allowed to continue their journeys safely.
The Army reiterated that the Joint Task Force remains committed to sustaining offensive operations against terrorist groups while protecting communities and securing major routes across the North-East Theatre.
