Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully rescued 75 civilians from Sambisa Forest in Borno State. The announcement came during a handover ceremony in Maiduguri on Monday, where the General Officer Commanding 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. W. Shaibu, detailed the operation’s success. Speaking through Deputy Theater Commander Brig. Gen. A.L. Akpodu, he revealed that the group included seven adult males, 34 women, and 34 children.
The rescue was part of a clearance mission under Operation Desert Sanity IV, executed by the 21 Special Armored Brigade and the 199 Special Forces Battalion. “As part of our ongoing clearance efforts, troops recently carried out successful offensive operations in Sambisa Forest,” Akpodu stated, noting that key terrorist strongholds—Ukuba, Ujimla, Sabil Huda, Garin, Fajula, and Gobara—were dismantled. The operation not only freed the captives but also struck a blow to insurgent infrastructure, neutralizing fighters and destroying command bases, logistics hubs, shelters, weapon caches, and IED materials.
The rescued civilians, having endured captivity, were provided immediate medical and psychological support. They are now transitioning to state care, with Borno’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, praising the troops’ bravery. “We are taking them to our rehabilitation centre,” Gambo said, outlining plans for livelihood aid, counseling, mental health services, and education for the children, all aimed at ensuring their full reintegration into society.
Posts on X reflect a mix of pride and relief, with users noting the rescue of 75 individuals—seven men, 34 women, and 34 children—by Operation Hadin Kai troops. Some hailed the military’s efforts in Sambisa, while others emphasized the handover to Borno officials, signaling hope for the victims’ recovery. The sentiment underscores ongoing public support for counter-insurgency operations in the region.
This operation marks another step in the military’s campaign to weaken terrorist footholds in Borno, offering a lifeline to those trapped by conflict.
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