Troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) under Operation Desert Sanity V/Siege Operations, have rescued six women and  children in the Amuda-Mandara Mountains axis in Gwoza Local Council of Borno state.

The rescued women and their children included Maryam Muhammad, 20, Ghwa’a Biea, 50, an escapee from terrorists’ captivity and Binta Umaru, 19.

A statement released, on Thursday, in Maiduguri by the OPHK Media Information Officer, Lt-Col. Sani Uba, disclosed: “The ground troops continue to intensify offensive and stabilisation operations across the theatre, leading to the rescue of abducted civilians, neutralisation of terrorists, and increased surrender of insurgents’ family members.

“In a major humanitarian breakthrough, troops of OPHK, while conducting  offensive  operations  at Amuda general area, successfully intercepted and rescued two abductees from Ngoshe community.”

Uba said: “The victims, identified as Mrs. Maryam Muhammad (20) and her infant son, Bello Muhammad (one year and four months), were among those abducted during the terrorist attack on Ngoshe on March 3, 2026.”

The information officer revealed: “Preliminary debrief revealed that the victims were held at a terrorists’ enclave within the Mandara Mountains before managing to escape following intense fire missions on their hideouts, which forced their captors to abandon them. After initial medical assessment, the rescued victims were safely reunited with their family members through the Ngoshe community leadership.”

In a related development, troops of  OPHK deployed at  Wulgo and the proposed COP Jagarawaji, during the offensive  operation, conducted in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force elements, troops carried out intensive offensive  operations in Wulgo, Gumsari, and Hausari general areas.

During the  operations, several indicators of terrorists’ presence and sustenance were discovered, including makeshift medical facilities equipped with transfusion materials and antibiotics, rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and a uniform belonging to a terrorist Amir.

Troops also neutralised one terrorist during the operation, with no casualties recorded on own forces.

Additionally, sustained military pressure continues to compel family members of terrorists to flee from enclaves and surrender to own troops. At Gwoza axis, one female family member identified as Ghwa’a Biwa (50 years) escaped from a terrorist camp in the Mandara Mountains and surrendered to troops of 192 Battalion.

She cited persistent military operations and lack of basic necessities within the camps as key reasons for her escape.

Similarly, two additional family members, identified as Binta Umaru (19 years) and her daughter, Hafsat Ibrahim (2 years), escaped from another terrorist enclave within the Mandara Mountains and surrendered to troops deployed along Gwoza–Limankara road.

All the surrendered individuals have been properly screened, documented, and are currently in custody undergoing further profiling in line with established procedures.

These developments underscore the effectiveness of ongoing offensive operations and the gradual collapse of terrorist support structures within the Theatre, particularly around the Mandara Mountains and border communities.

The Joint Task Force reassures the public of its utmost  commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorists, rescuing abducted civilians, and restoring lasting security, peace and  economic stability in the North East region.

The Military High Command commends the troops for their impressive battle performance, urging them to sustain the operational tempo in the collective interest of national security.