Nigeria’s military says it has rescued 360 abducted persons during a major operation in the Mandara Mountains of Borno State, targeting fighters of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), a faction linked to Boko Haram.
According to Operation Hadin Kai, the mission was carried out by special forces and Sector 1 troops after weeks of intelligence gathering involving human intelligence, signals intelligence, drone surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
The victims, including men, women and children abducted from several communities, were being held in a fortified insurgent enclave deep within the mountainous area.
Military authorities said the operation successfully encircled the insurgents’ positions, forcing several fighters to flee while others reportedly surrendered.
The rescued hostages were evacuated to safe locations where they are receiving medical and humanitarian assistance. However, the army confirmed that two infants died from exhaustion due to the harsh conditions of captivity and the difficult terrain.
The military added that clearance operations are continuing to track down remaining insurgents, dismantle support networks and prevent further kidnappings in the region.
