Following relentless ground and air assaults in the Lake Chad region, troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have successfully rescued 47 persons, mostly women and children, from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) enclave in Kangarwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno state.
A statement issued by the Acting Military Information Officer of OPHK, Captain Mohammed Goni, on Tuesday in Maiduguri,the Borno state capital, said the victims were rescued following sustained offensive operations by troops against ISWAP strongholds in the region.
He said the rescue was made possible through aggressive ground and air assaults that forced the terrorists to abandon their positions, creating an opportunity for the captives to escape from prolonged detention and ultimately breathe the air of freedom again.
The statement said: “The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, recorded yet another significant humanitarian success with the rescue of over 47 persons, mostly women and children, who were held captive by ISWAP terrorists in Kangarwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno.
“The successful rescue operation was made possible through sustained aggressive pressure and relentless offensive operations conducted by OPHK troops against ISWAP enclaves in the Lake Chad region.
“The unrelenting ground and air offensives forced the terrorists to abandon their positions in confusion, enabling the victims to escape from prolonged captivity.”
The military spokesman further stated that the rescued persons have been relocated to a highly secure location where they are receiving essential medical care and emergency relief, while authorities are making arrangements to provide them with vital humanitarian assistance.
Furthermore, he said government agencies are partnering with the Armed Forces to design specialized rehabilitation programs, ensuring these survivors can smoothly and successfully reintegrate into society.
Captain Mohammed Goni stated that the recent rescue operation underscores Operation Hadin Kai’s dedication to protecting civilians while neutralizing terrorist capabilities.
Additionally, he said the Theatre Command reaffirmed its resolve to intensify offensive operations against remaining ISWAP networks to restore lasting peace and normalcy across the North East region.
Recent months have seen an aggressive escalation of military operations in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sambisa forest axis and the relentless pressure on insurgent enclaves by these Operation Hadin Kai offensives have yielded critical strategic victories, including the liberation of civilians, the recovery of weapons, and the elimination of armed many extremists.
