Date: July 31, 2026
By Kimberly Wilson
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully foiled an attempted mass abduction by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists along the Buratai–Kamuya Road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, rescuing 31 civilians without injuries.
According to the Nigerian military, the operation began at about 3:45 p.m. on Thursday after the 135 Special Forces Battalion, based at Dutsen Kura, detected suspicious insurgent activity through its real-time surveillance systems. Intelligence revealed that the terrorists had intercepted four civilian vehicles travelling along the strategic highway and were attempting to force the passengers into the remote Mangari–Dora area for abduction.
Upon receiving the intelligence, the battalion immediately deployed a Quick Response Force (QRF) to intercept the attackers before they could escape with the hostages. Troops engaged the insurgents in a fierce gun battle after making contact with the fleeing terrorists.
The military said the overwhelming firepower of the responding troops forced the terrorists to abandon their captives. In their hurried retreat, the insurgents also left behind the four hijacked civilian vehicles and several operational motorcycles before fleeing into nearby bushland.
Following the firefight, soldiers conducted a thorough sweep of the surrounding area to ensure no terrorists remained behind or attempted to regroup. The operation concluded with the successful rescue of all 31 abducted civilians, who were recovered unharmed. The four seized vehicles were also fully recovered without damage.
Military authorities said the rescued commuters and their vehicles were escorted under armed protection back to Buratai, where they regained possession of their property before safely continuing their journeys.
Speaking on behalf of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer at the Joint Task Force Headquarters (North East), reaffirmed the military's commitment to intelligence-led operations aimed at eliminating the remaining Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters operating in the region.
Captain Goni said security forces would continue conducting aggressive surveillance and rapid-response operations to secure major highways and protect civilians travelling through the North-East, where insurgent groups have frequently targeted motorists for kidnapping and extortion.
The latest operation represents another success in ongoing counter-insurgency efforts in Borno State, where Nigerian troops have intensified surveillance and rapid intervention missions to prevent terrorist attacks and maintain the safety of key transportation corridors. Despite recent gains, security agencies continue to warn that Boko Haram and ISWAP remain active in parts of the North-East and are capable of launching opportunistic attacks on vulnerable communities and road users.