Troops Foil Mass Abduction, Rescue 157 Civilians in Borno

By Orbit News 24 | March 31, 2026

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have successfully foiled a mass abduction attempt by Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents, rescuing 157 civilians along the Buratai–Kamuya axis of Borno State.

According to security sources, the incident occurred when insurgents ambushed vehicles conveying civilians along the route and attempted to move the victims into nearby bush areas using about 17 vehicles.

Troops escorting the civilians immediately engaged the attackers, while a Quick Reaction Force was deployed to reinforce the operation. The insurgents were subsequently forced to retreat toward the Mangari area following sustained military pressure.

All abducted civilians were rescued unharmed and have since been evacuated to safety.

However, the military recorded casualties during the operation, as five soldiers sustained injuries from an improvised explosive device (IED) while pursuing the fleeing insurgents. The injured personnel are currently receiving medical treatment.

Security sources say troops remain on heightened alert in the area, with clearance operations ongoing to prevent further attacks.

The development marks another significant effort in ongoing counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria’s North-East.