Troops of Operation HADIN KAI stormed a fortified Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad enclave in the Mandara Mountains area of southern Borno State on Thursday and freed 360 abducted persons in what military authorities called one of the largest hostage rescue operations in the region's recent history.
The Joint Task Force (North East) launched the operation against the terrorist group's heavily defended position, breaking through layers of security to reach the captives. Military sources said the rescue came after weeks of intelligence gathering and planning to locate the hostages held in the mountainous terrain.
The 360 freed persons included women, children, and men who had been held captive by the insurgent group for varying lengths of time. Military officials confirmed all the rescued individuals were being processed and provided with immediate humanitarian assistance, including medical screening and basic supplies.
The operation represents a significant blow to JAS, which has conducted numerous kidnappings across northeastern Nigeria over the past decade. The group, also known as Boko Haram's Yusufiyya faction, has been responsible for mass abductions including schoolchildren and residents from communities across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.
No casualty figures were released by the military regarding troops engaged in the rescue operation. Authorities did not immediately disclose details about resistance encountered or the condition of the rescued hostages beyond confirming they were receiving care.
The Mandara Mountains have long served as a refuge for militant groups operating in the Lake Chad Basin. The terrain's rocky outcrops and caves have made it difficult for security forces to dislodge insurgents who establish heavily fortified camps there, though military operations in recent months have intensified efforts to clear these strongholds.
Operation HADIN KAI, which replaced the previous counter-insurgency operation in the northeast, has ramped up offensive missions against terrorist groups since its inception. The military command will brief the public on further details of the rescue operation in coming days.
