The Nigerian military has rescued twelve teenage girls abducted by fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in southern Borno State, following an intelligence-driven operation that has brought significant relief to local communities.
According to the army, the girls; aged between 15 and 20, were seized on 23 November while working on farmland in the Mussa district of the Askira/Uba area.
Troops from Operation Hadin Kai launched a targeted mission on 29 November, acting on what officials described as “credible and actionable intelligence”, which led to the safe recovery of all twelve captives.
The army said the survivors have been moved to a secure military facility, where they are receiving medical attention, psychological support and formal debriefing ahead of their reunification with their families.
Military commanders commended the speed and discipline of the troops involved, as well as the vital contribution of local security actors and community informants whose intelligence underpinned the operation.
Forces in the region are continuing search operations to track remaining ISWAP cells and prevent further attacks.
The army urged residents to sustain cooperation with security agencies, stressing that community-supplied information remains essential to combating insurgency and consolidating long-term stability in the north-east.
