Military Rescues 47 ISWAP Captives in Borno State

Troops operating under Operation Hadin Kai have successfully rescued 47 individuals, primarily women and children, from an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) enclave in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The rescue, which took place on June 20, was confirmed on Monday by the Acting Military Information Officer for the Joint Task Force (North-East), Captain Mohammed Goni. According to the military, the captives regained their freedom following a series of sustained ground and air offensives against insurgent strongholds in the Lake Chad region.

The military report stated that the intensity of the assault forced the militants to abandon their positions, creating an opening for the captives to escape their prolonged confinement. The rescued individuals have since been transported to a secure location where they are receiving medical evaluations and necessary humanitarian aid before the start of the reintegration process.

The operation marks a continued effort by the Nigerian military to dismantle terrorist cells and restore stability to the North-East, a region that has been the focal point of a decade-long insurgency. Military officials reaffirmed their commitment to degrading the operational capabilities of ISWAP and protecting civilians caught in the conflict.

As operations continue across the Lake Chad basin and the Sambisa forest axis, the Joint Task Force maintains its goal of neutralizing remaining insurgent networks and ensuring the safety of communities throughout the region.