Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has praised the Nigerian military for what he described as a major breakthrough after troops reportedly rescued 360 people abducted by insurgents in the Mandara Mountains, a known terrorist hideout in southern Borno State.
The operation was carried out by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, who successfully freed men, women, and children held captive in the insurgent stronghold. The rescue has been described by the governor as a significant step forward in ongoing counterterrorism efforts in the North-East.
In a statement issued through his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, Zulum commended the professionalism and bravery of the military, noting that the operation demonstrated the strength of intelligence-led security efforts in tackling insurgency.
He also extended appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, senior military leadership, and all personnel involved in the mission, describing their efforts as courageous and impactful in restoring hope to affected communities.
According to him, the successful rescue reinforces the importance of collaboration between security agencies and government authorities in the fight against Boko Haram and other extremist groups operating in the region.
Zulum reiterated the state government’s commitment to supporting ongoing military operations through logistics and other necessary resources aimed at sustaining counter-insurgency campaigns.
He further urged residents, especially in affected areas, to remain vigilant and continue cooperating with security agencies by sharing credible intelligence that could assist future operations.
The governor also expressed concern for other abducted victims still in captivity, including schoolchildren in parts of the state, assuring that efforts were ongoing to secure their release.
The Mandara Mountains have long been identified as a stronghold for insurgent groups, and the latest rescue operation is being viewed as one of the more significant recent successes in the region’s security efforts.
