Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have recorded another breakthrough in the fight against insurgency, rescuing a young mother and her infant son from captivity and reuniting them with their family after months in the hands of terrorists in Borno State.
The victims, identified as Maryam Muhammad, 20, and her one-year-four-month-old son, Bello Muhammad, were rescued during ongoing military operations aimed at flushing out insurgents and securing communities around the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Local Government Area.
Military sources disclosed that troops of the 82 Division Task Force Battalion intercepted and rescued the mother and child while conducting a perimeter clearance patrol around the Amuda general area on June 2, 2026.
According to preliminary findings, the victims were among residents abducted during a terrorist attack on Ngoshe Community on March 3, 2026, when insurgents stormed the area and whisked away several civilians.
During debriefing, Maryam told security personnel that she and her son had been held at a terrorist hideout in the Mandara Mountains under the control of a commander identified as Saha.
She revealed that an opportunity for escape emerged after sustained military offensives and aerial bombardments forced the terrorists to abandon parts of their enclave.
The intensified military pressure, she explained, created confusion among the insurgents and enabled her to flee with her child to safety.
Security sources described the rescue as part of ongoing efforts by troops to track down abducted civilians and dismantle terrorist strongholds across the North-East theatre of operations.
Following their rescue, the mother and child were immediately taken to the military medical reception station, where they underwent health checks and received welfare support to aid their recovery.
In a touching moment, the pair were later reunited with their relatives through the Ngoshe community leader, Mallam Bulama Kunda, bringing joy to family members who had feared they might never return.
The emotional reunion was witnessed by local residents and military personnel, many of whom described it as a testament to the military’s relentless efforts to rescue civilians trapped by insurgents.
Military authorities noted that ongoing offensives across the Mandara Mountains and other terrorist enclaves have continued to degrade insurgent capabilities, forcing many captives and even relatives of terrorists to escape or surrender.
According to security sources, the sustained pressure on terrorist camps has led to a growing number of rescues and recoveries in recent months, as troops intensify operations to restore peace and stability across the region.
While acknowledging that security challenges remain, military authorities maintained that troops are sustaining a high level of vigilance and operational readiness to protect communities and deny terrorists freedom of movement.
The successful rescue of Maryam and her son has once again highlighted the impact of ongoing military operations in Borno State and renewed hope for families still awaiting the return of loved ones held in captivity by insurgents.
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