Mothers, Children Walk Free After Military Offensive Cripples ISWAP Enclave

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

At least 47 women and children have regained their freedom after troops of Operation Hadin Kai intensified military operations against Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the Lake Chad region, forcing insurgents to abandon their strongholds and leaving behind dozens of captives who had endured prolonged detention.

The rescued victims, comprising mainly mothers and children from Damasak, Gashigar and Bags communities in Borno State, were freed from a terrorists’ hideout in Kangarwa, Kukawa Local Government Area following sustained offensive operations by the Northeast Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai.

The military disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, who described the rescue as another significant humanitarian success in the ongoing fight against terrorism in the North-East.

According to the statement, the rescue operation was achieved on June 20, 2026, as a result of relentless pressure mounted on ISWAP enclaves across the Lake Chad basin.

“The successful rescue operation was made possible through sustained aggressive pressure and relentless offensive operations conducted by OPHK troops against ISWAP enclaves in the Lake Chad region,” Uba stated.

He explained that coordinated ground and air assaults disrupted the terrorists’ activities and compelled them to flee their positions in confusion, creating an opportunity for the captives to escape.

“The unrelenting ground and air offensives forced the terrorists to abandon their positions in confusion, enabling the victims to escape from prolonged captivity,” he added.

The military spokesman said the rescued civilians are receiving medical attention and humanitarian assistance at a secure location. He noted that relevant agencies are working to ensure their rehabilitation and smooth reintegration into their communities.

Uba said the successful rescue of the 47 abductees reflects the military’s commitment not only to neutralising terrorist threats but also to securing the freedom and safety of innocent civilians caught in the conflict.

He reaffirmed the determination of Operation Hadin Kai to sustain its offensive against ISWAP and other terrorist groups, dismantle their remaining networks and restore lasting peace and stability across the North-East.

For the rescued women and children, the operation marks the end of a painful chapter and the beginning of a new journey back to their families and communities.

Former Military Spokesman Rabe Abubakar Dies in Captivity

By Jamila Muhammad

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former military spokesman, who died while in captivity after being abducted by his captors.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, described the late officer as a dedicated patriot whose contributions to Nigeria’s security and military development would be remembered for generations.

The military expressed profound sympathy to the family of the deceased, his former colleagues, and Nigerians at large, noting that Major General Abubakar served the nation with distinction in several strategic positions, including as Director of Defence Information and spokesperson for various military formations.

According to the statement, the retired general played a significant role in advancing Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations and strengthening the professionalism of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).

“His commitment to duty and to the unity of Nigeria remains a shining example for all personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” the Defence Headquarters stated.

The military revealed that it deliberately refrained from public commentary following his abduction in order not to jeopardize ongoing rescue efforts.

“The Defence Headquarters withheld public comment on his abduction in deference to ongoing rescue efforts by the Armed Forces and sister security agencies. Every operational resource was deployed in the hope of securing his safe return,” the statement said.

Reacting to the tragic development, the military high command said the death of the retired officer has further strengthened its determination to intensify the fight against terrorists, kidnappers, and other criminal elements threatening national security.

The DHQ disclosed that military operations across the country have been reinforced in response to rising incidents of abduction, with renewed efforts aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and bringing perpetrators to justice.

“This sad loss further strengthens the resolve of the Armed Forces. We will remain resolute in the discharge of our constitutional mandate to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria and to protect all citizens,” the statement added.

The military assured Nigerians that it would sustain ongoing operations until peace and security are restored nationwide.

“We assure Nigerians that the Armed Forces will not relent until peace and security are restored and those responsible for terrorist activities across the nation are held to account,” the statement concluded.

The passing of Major General Abubakar marks the loss of one of the Armed Forces’ most respected public affairs officers, whose career spanned several critical assignments within Nigeria’s security architecture and whose legacy of service remains deeply etched in the nation’s military history.

Troops Rescue Six Women, Children in Borno’s Mandara Mountains, Neutralise Terrorist

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Troops of the North-East Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), operating within Operation Desert Sanity V/Siege Operations, have rescued six women and children during intensified clearance operations around the Amuda axis of the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

Military authorities confirmed that among those rescued were Maryam Muhammad (20), Ghawa’a Biea (50)—a woman who escaped from terrorist captivity—and Binta Umaru (19), alongside other women and children recovered during separate but coordinated operations in the area.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Maiduguri, the OPHK Media Information Officer, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, said troops have continued sustained offensive and stabilisation operations across the theatre, leading to the rescue of abducted civilians, neutralisation of insurgents, and increasing surrender of relatives of terrorist fighters.

According to him, troops conducting operations in the Amuda general area intercepted and rescued two abductees from Ngoshe community—Maryam Muhammad and her infant son, Bello Muhammad (1 year, 4 months)—who were among those kidnapped during the 3 March 2026 attack on Ngoshe.

Preliminary military debrief indicated that the victims were held in a terrorist hideout within the Mandara Mountains before escaping amid heavy pressure from ongoing military offensives that disrupted insurgent positions. The rescued victims were later given medical attention and reunited with their families through community leadership structures in Ngoshe.

In another development, troops operating around Wulgo and the proposed COP Jagarawaji, in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force members, conducted clearance operations across Wulgo, Gumsari, and Hausari general areas. During the raids, troops uncovered indicators of terrorist presence, including makeshift medical facilities, pharmaceutical supplies, 7.62mm ammunition, and a uniform believed to belong to a terrorist commander.

The operation also led to the neutralisation of one insurgent, with no casualties recorded on the side of government forces.

Meanwhile, sustained military pressure has continued to force relatives of insurgents to abandon enclaves. In Gwoza axis, Ghawa’a Biwa (50) reportedly escaped from a terrorist camp in the Mandara Mountains and surrendered to troops of the 192 Battalion, citing hunger, hardship, and continuous military operations as reasons for her decision.

Similarly, Binta Umaru (19) and her two-year-old daughter, Hafsat Ibrahim, also fled another enclave within the Mandara Mountains and surrendered along the Gwoza–Limankara axis. All surrendered individuals have been screened, documented, and are undergoing further profiling in line with established military procedures.

Military authorities say the developments reflect the growing collapse of terrorist logistics and family support structures in the region, particularly within the Mandara Mountains and border communities.

The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining operational pressure on insurgents, rescuing abducted civilians, and restoring lasting peace and stability across the North-East.

The Military High Command also commended frontline troops for their performance, urging them to sustain the momentum in the ongoing counterterrorism operations.