Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has praised the Nigerian military for the successful rescue of 360 abductees from Ngoshe community in Borno State, describing the operation as a significant victory in the fight against terrorism.
In a statement issued on Monday, Atiku commended troops of Operation HADIN KAI for freeing the victims, who had been held captive by Boko Haram insurgents in the Mandara Mountains area of southern Borno State. He said the operation demonstrated the professionalism, courage, and commitment of Nigeria’s armed forces in protecting citizens and combating insecurity.
The rescue mission, carried out by troops of the Joint Task Force North East, led to the release of hundreds of men, women, and children who were abducted during an attack on Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area earlier this year. Military authorities described the operation as one of the most significant hostage rescue missions conducted in the North-East in recent years.
Atiku noted that the successful operation reinforces confidence in the military’s capacity to defeat insurgents if provided with the necessary support, equipment, intelligence, and welfare. He urged the government to continue investing in security agencies and strengthening efforts to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
While celebrating the rescue, the former vice president also called for intensified efforts to secure the freedom of other Nigerians still being held by kidnappers and terrorist groups across the country. He expressed sympathy for families whose loved ones remain in captivity and reiterated the need for sustained military operations against insurgent networks.
According to military officials, the rescue followed weeks of intelligence gathering, surveillance, and coordinated operations by Special Forces and troops of Operation HADIN KAI. The victims were subsequently evacuated to safe locations where they received medical attention and humanitarian assistance. Reports indicated that two infants died from exhaustion during the difficult evacuation process through the mountainous terrain.
The rescue has drawn commendations from several public figures, including Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, who described the operation as a remarkable demonstration of the growing effectiveness of intelligence led military operations in the North-East.
Nigeria’s North-East has remained the epicentre of a prolonged insurgency involving Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions of people over the past decade.
The report is based on statements by Atiku Abubakar and confirmed military reports on the rescue of 360 abductees from the Ngoshe axis in Borno State.
