Troops of Operation HADIN KAI rescued 360 people, mostly women and children, from a fortified Boko Haram enclave deep in the Mandara Mountains of southern Borno State after weeks of intelligence work and careful planning.
The captives had been held since March 3 when armed insurgents invaded Ngoshe community in Gwoza local government area. The military repelled that initial attack, killing dozens of terrorists, but many residents were abducted.
Lieutenant Colonel Haruna Sani, Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, said the operation was "one of the most significant hostage rescue operations conducted in the North East Theatre in recent times." It involved Special Forces and troops of Sector 1 working in coordination.
The rescue followed weeks of intelligence preparation. OPHK intelligence elements used human intelligence, signals intelligence, and surveillance from unmanned aerial systems and long-range reconnaissance patrols to build a complete picture of the terrorist camp. Soldiers mapped the terrain, identified defensive positions, tracked insurgent movement patterns, and assessed the condition of the hostages.
A key breakthrough came when military intelligence assets successfully infiltrated the terrorist network. These operatives provided exact locations of the captives, identified where insurgent commanders were positioned, revealed internal security measures, and tracked planned escape routes. At the same time, psychological operations created divisions and mistrust among the terrorists, weakening their command structure and cohesion.
Sani said this intelligence advantage gave OPHK "unprecedented situational awareness" before the assault began. Commanders shaped the operational environment to minimise risk to the hostages during the rescue itself.
The multi-axis operation was carefully coordinated to isolate the objective area, secure key terrain, and prevent insurgents from moving captives or reinforcing their position. All 360 people were recovered safely.
The operation demonstrates the growing intelligence dominance and tactical capability of OPHK in the North East theatre. The military has now begun the process of reuniting rescued captives with their families while providing immediate medical and humanitarian assistance.
