Troops of 222 Battalion under the 21 Special Armoured Brigade have rescued two women and a two-month-old baby from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) captivity during an offensive operation along the Yuwe axis of Borno State.
The operation, conducted on May 18, 2026, was part of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts by Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI aimed at sustaining pressure on terrorist enclaves in the area.
In a statement issued by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 21 Special Armoured Brigade, Lieutenant Sani Abubakar Muhammad, the rescued victims were identified as 25-year-old Comfort Sunday, her infant baby, and 20-year-old Rose Adamu.
According to the statement, preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were abducted by ISWAP terrorists on November 15, 2025, while working on farms located between Pumbum and Kwang villages.
The victims were reportedly taken to Dille village in Askira/Uba Local Government Area before being moved to Yuwe, where they remained in captivity until their rescue by troops.
Following the operation, the victims were evacuated to the Brigade Headquarters in Bama, where they received medical attention and preliminary care before being handed over to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) through its representative, Mr. Yunana Musa, for family reunification.
The Commander of the 21 Special Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Tosin Ayoola, commended the troops for the successful operation, describing it as a reflection of the brigade’s sustained offensive posture and effective operational coordination.
He said the successes being recorded by units under the brigade were driven by aggressive clearance operations, coordinated planning, and timely intelligence exploitation targeted at dismantling terrorist networks and protecting civilians.
Brigadier General Ayoola also provided financial assistance to the rescued victims to support their immediate needs and ease the hardship they experienced during captivity.
