Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully rescued 75 civilians from Sambisa Forest in Borno State.
In a press briefing on Monday, during the handover of the victims to the Borno State government in Maiduguri, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. W. Shaibu, revealed that the rescued individuals included seven adult males, 34 women, and 34 children.
The GOC, represented by the Deputy Theater Commander, Brig. Gen. A.L. Akpodu, explained that the civilians were freed during a clearance operation led by the 21 Special Armored Brigade and the 199 Special Forces Battalion as part of Operation Desert Sanity IV in Sambisa Forest.
“As part of our ongoing clearance efforts, the 21 Special Armored Brigade and the 199 Special Forces Battalion conducted successful offensive operations in Sambisa Forest,” he said.
“The operation led to the clearing of key terrorist strongholds in areas such as Ukuba, Ujimla, Sabil Huda, Garin, Fajula, and Gobara, resulting in the rescue of 75 civilians, which included seven adult males, 34 women, and 34 children,” he added.
Gen. Akpodu further emphasized that the military had destroyed multiple insurgent facilities during the operation, contributing to the degradation of enemy capabilities.
“We successfully neutralized insurgents and destroyed command and logistics bases, makeshift shelters, weapon caches, and materials used for making improvised explosive devices (IEDs),” he said.
The rescued civilians have been provided with medical care and psychological support and are now in the process of being handed over to the Borno State government.
Receiving the victims on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, expressed her gratitude to the troops for their bravery in the fight against insurgency.
“We are relocating them to our rehabilitation center, where they will receive livelihood support, counseling, mental health services, and educational programs for the children. We will ensure they are properly reintegrated into society before they are released,” she said.
