Former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has praised the Nigerian military and Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, following the successful rescue of 360 abducted residents of Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The victims, who had reportedly been held captive by insurgents since March, regained their freedom on Saturday after a coordinated rescue operation conducted by troops of Operation Hadin Kai.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Media Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Haruna M. Sani, Special Forces troops and personnel of Sector 1 carried out the operation deep inside the Mandara Mountains, where they stormed a heavily fortified enclave belonging to Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS).
Sani disclosed that the mission followed weeks of intelligence gathering, covert surveillance, and meticulous planning, resulting in the safe rescue of men, women, and children abducted from several communities, particularly around the Ngoshe axis.
He noted that the victims had endured severe hardship during their time in captivity.
Security sources further revealed that six other abducted civilians had earlier been rescued last month in Amuda, a deserted area located between Ngoshe and Gava communities.
Reacting to the development, Ndume described the operation as a remarkable achievement and commended the professionalism, resilience, and patriotism demonstrated by the troops.
“We must applaud the professionalism and spectacular patriotism of the men and officers of the Nigerian Army, who continue to exhibit outstanding courage in the face of obvious logistic challenges,” Ndume said.
The senator representing Borno South Senatorial District also lauded the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Maiduguri, and the Commander of the 26 Task Force Brigade, Gwoza, for their roles in the successful operation.
Ndume further credited Governor Zulum for his commitment to restoring peace and stability in Borno State, noting that the governor’s efforts contributed significantly to the success recorded by security forces.
“I must not fail to mention the selfless efforts of the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, whose imprints could not be ruled out in the successful operation carried out by the security forces,” he stated.
The lawmaker also commended the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, for providing relief materials to persons displaced by the insurgency.
He, however, called on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to complement the efforts of the Borno State Government by supporting the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Ngoshe community to facilitate the return of displaced residents.
According to Ndume, many residents currently living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps are willing to return home if the community is rebuilt and adequately secured.
“From my findings, with military presence in Ngoshe, the people want to leave the Internally Displaced Persons camps if the community can be made habitable for them,” he said.
The senator also urged the military and other security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of schoolchildren abducted from Mussa community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, as well as travellers kidnapped along the Biu-Buratai Road.
He further condemned the recent killing of soldiers and repentant Boko Haram volunteers in Mandaragra village, Biu Local Government Area, describing the incident as unfortunate and a reminder of the need to sustain pressure on insurgent groups operating in the region.
The rescue operation is being regarded as one of the most significant hostage recovery missions carried out by Operation Hadin Kai in recent years, underscoring ongoing efforts by security forces to dismantle insurgent networks and restore stability across the North-East.
