Troops of the Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have rescued an eight-year-old boy abducted during the March 3 attack on Ngoshe community in Borno State, while also neutralising terrorists and recovering weapons in multiple operations across the North-East.
The military said the operations were carried out under Operation Desert Sanity and related missions in collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Media Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, troops conducted coordinated offensives in the Valle, Ashigashiya and Gakara general areas.
The statement said troops engaged suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters with “superior firepower”, killing two insurgents, while others fled towards the Ngoshe axis.
It added that no casualties were recorded among the troops during the operation.
The military also disclosed that troops operating along the Bravo Kilo 10 axis intercepted suspected terrorists and killed another insurgent during an exchange of fire.
Recovered items included a radio set and a mobile phone.
The statement further revealed that troops conducting operations along the Ngoshe–Amuda corridor rescued the eight-year-old boy abducted during the March 3 attack on Ngoshe community.
The child, whose identity was withheld, was medically examined and reunited with his family.
In another operation around Uvaha village along the Gwoza–Limankara axis, troops rescued a 20-year-old abducted Fulani man identified as Dahiru Ahamdu.
Ahamdu reportedly told security personnel that he escaped after heavy artillery bombardments by troops struck terrorist camps, killed two insurgents and caused panic among the captors.
He said he was abducted on May 8 while grazing cattle in Bororo village in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State before being taken to a terrorist hideout in the Mandara Mountains.
The military said the victim had undergone medical examination and was reunited with his family through community leaders.
Meanwhile, troops deployed at Buni Gari recovered explosives and ammunition abandoned by fleeing insurgents in the Magza area.
Recovered items included four 40mm RPG bombs, one 81mm mortar bomb and four 60mm mortar bombs, which were secured by Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams.
The statement also confirmed the arrest of a suspected collaborator identified as Kuti Muhammad, a member of the CJTF, over alleged links with terrorist elements.
In Biu Local Government Area, troops responding to an armed robbery incident in Garin Gwigwi village arrested three suspects identified as Aliyu Mamadu, Umar Mohammed and Adamu Aliyu.
Items recovered from the suspects included mobile phones, suspected illicit substances, charms, jewellery, cash, a dagger, a Quran booklet and a locally made firearm.
The military added that a Dane gun earlier reported stolen was recovered and returned to its owner after verification.
Troops working with local hunters also arrested four suspected cattle rustlers and terrorist collaborators at Kwaya Kusar Market with six rustled cattle.
Operation Hadin Kai said troops across the North-East theatre remain on high alert and will continue aggressive operations aimed at denying terrorists and criminal groups freedom of movement in the region.
