Sanni Abdullahi
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have rescued six kidnap victims after a swift confrontation with suspected terrorists along the Delwa–Komala road in Borno State, the military confirmed. The rescue, carried out during routine patrols, has been described by security sources as another step in ongoing efforts to restore safety to travel corridors in the North-East.
According to an update obtained by our Correspondent, the troops came under no fire but encountered the armed group while monitoring the Delwa–Komala axis, a route that has seen repeated attacks in recent months. On sighting the advancing soldiers, the terrorists reportedly abandoned their captives and escaped into nearby bushes.
“They fled into the bush on sighting our troops, abandoning their captives,” a military source familiar with the operation said. “The soldiers immediately secured the area and moved the victims to safety.”
All six victims were rescued unharmed. The group includes four men, one woman, and one minor. Medical personnel attached to the operation conducted preliminary checks on the rescued civilians before they were transferred to a secure facility for further assessment and reunification with their families.
A senior officer with Operation HADIN KAI said the rescue reflects improved intelligence gathering and response time along vulnerable roads. “Our troops remain on high alert across all sectors. The Delwa–Komala road is a key link for communities in that area, and we will not allow terrorists to turn it into a hunting ground,” the officer stated. “This rescue shows that sustained pressure is denying them freedom of movement.”
Residents of nearby communities have welcomed the development. For months, motorists and travelers on rural Borno roads have faced the threat of abduction, with many relying on military escorts for long journeys. The latest rescue is expected to boost confidence in security operations ahead of market days and seasonal movement of farm produce.
“Every rescued life matters to us,” the officer added. “We understand the trauma these families go through when their loved ones are taken. Our mandate is clear: protect civilians, degrade the terrorists’ capacity, and keep the roads open.”
Military authorities said clearance operations and patrols are being sustained across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states as part of Operation HADIN KAI’s mandate to dismantle terrorist hideouts and logistics networks. The operation, which coordinates land and air assets, has focused in recent weeks on major highways and border areas used by insurgents for movement.
“The troops sustain efforts to deny terrorists freedom of movement,” the statement noted. “Aggressive patrols, ambush positions, and community engagement are all part of the strategy to keep pressure on the enemy.”
Security analysts say the Delwa–Komala axis connects several farming communities and has strategic importance for both civilian transport and military logistics. Attacks along such routes disrupt economic activity and deepen humanitarian challenges in a region still recovering from over a decade of insurgency.
Local leaders have urged continued vigilance. While the rescue of the six victims brings relief, they stress that long-term safety will depend on consistent troop presence and support for community-based security structures.
For now, the six rescued civilians are receiving care as the military works to locate and notify their families. The Army has not released their identities, citing privacy and ongoing security procedures.
Operation HADIN KAI, launched to coordinate counter-insurgency efforts in the North-East, continues to record periodic successes against terrorist groups operating in Borno and neighboring states. Military commanders maintain that degrading the terrorists’ ability to operate freely on major roads remains a top priority.
As patrols continue, troops have been directed to maintain close coordination with local hunters and vigilante groups who provide ground-level intelligence. That collaboration, officers say, has been critical in foiling abductions and ambushes.
The rescue along Delwa–Komala road adds to a series of recent operations where troops have intercepted terrorists before they could move abducted civilians to remote camps. Security officials insist the momentum will be sustained until major highways in the region are fully secured.
