Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully rescued five children who escaped from Boko Haram terrorist enclaves in different parts of Borno State. The rescue came as a result of sustained military pressure on insurgent hideouts, military sources confirmed.
Rescue Operations on June 4
The rescue operations took place on June 4 during ongoing fighting and perimeter clearance patrols conducted by troops in the North-East theatre. Soldiers from the 82 Division Task Force Battalion rescued two female escapees, Aisha Idrisa (13) and Fatima Abubakar (11), near the Amuda general area of Gwoza Local Government Area.
The girls managed to flee from a terrorist enclave in the Sahalawa area after intensified military bombardments and ground operations forced insurgents to abandon their positions. Preliminary debriefing revealed that both girls are from Pulka community and were abducted by terrorists in 2025.
Escapees Describe Military Pressure
“The escapees disclosed that sustained military pressure and bombardments compelled the terrorists to flee, creating an opportunity for them to escape captivity,” a military source said. After rescue, the girls were screened, documented, and reunited with their families at the Pulka Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in the presence of camp officials.
Three More Surrender in Gwoza
In a related development, three other female escapees identified as Wuriya Kaka (12), Fauza Abu (13), and Hussaina Usman (13) surrendered to troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade in Gwoza. They had escaped from Guduf Nagadayo in the Mandara Mountains. The military stated that the three girls are currently undergoing screening and profiling procedures in line with established protocols.
Growing Trend of Escapes
Security analysts note that the increasing number of escapees from terrorist-held locations reflects the growing pressure on insurgent groups through sustained military operations across the North-East. The military maintains that the overall security situation in the theatre remains calm but unpredictable, while troops continue to demonstrate high morale and operational effectiveness in ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
