Army Reclaims Ngoshe After Fierce Battle Over 100 Abducted Residents Still Missing

Army Reclaims Ngoshe After Fierce Battle Over 100 Abducted Residents Still Missing

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Troops of the Nigerian Army under the Northeast Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have reclaimed Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State after repelling insurgents in a fierce counter-offensive.

The border community, which shares proximity with Cameroon, had earlier come under attack on February 24, 2026, when terrorists abducted more than 100 residents, mostly women and children.

In a statement issued in Maiduguri, the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, confirmed that troops regained control of the community in the early hours of Thursday following a swift military response.

He explained that the terrorists had earlier launched an attack on the area, which was occupied by troops on March 3, prompting the military to mobilise reinforcement teams to secure the strategic location.

According to Uba, troops from the Forward Operating Base in Pulka and the 151 Battalion were quickly deployed to reinforce the position and reclaim the community from the insurgents.

“During the reinforcement operation, the leading Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which damaged two tyres. Despite the incident, the troops continued their advance toward the objective,” he said.

He further disclosed that a special reinforcement team led by the Commander of the 26 Task Force Brigade in Gwoza, Brigadier General Nasirudeen Abdullahi, later arrived at the scene and coordinated a counter-attack that forced the insurgents to retreat from the area.

During the exchange of gunfire and subsequent pursuit of the fleeing terrorists, troops recovered three AK-47 rifles and the barrel of a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG).

The operation also received aerial support from the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, which carried out targeted strikes that neutralised several insurgents.

Following the successful recapture of the community, Brigadier General Abdullahi addressed the troops, praising their bravery and resilience while urging them to intensify operations to dismantle remaining terrorist cells operating around border communities such as Pulka, Kirawa and Bokko.

Despite the success of the operation, security sources indicated that more than 100 residents abducted during the earlier attack are yet to be rescued.

Uba noted that troops remain on high alert and are continuing aggressive operations across the region to deny terrorists freedom of movement and restore lasting peace and stability in the Northeast.

The military high command has also commended the troops for their courage and determination, urging them to sustain the current operational momentum in the ongoing fight against insurgency.