By Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have foiled a mass abduction by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists along the Buratai–Kamuya road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, rescuing 31 kidnapped travellers and recovering four vehicles.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 3:45 p.m. on July 31, when troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion deployed at Echo 1, Dutsen Kura, detected suspicious movement on a closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance system.
The sources said the CCTV footage showed suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists abducting civilians travelling in four civilian vehicles along the Buratai–Kamuya road.
Acting swiftly, the battalion’s Quick Reaction Force (QRF) launched a pursuit of the terrorists toward the Mangari–Dora general area, where they made contact with the fleeing insurgents.
According to the sources, the troops engaged the terrorists in a firefight, forcing them to abandon the kidnapped victims and the four vehicles before fleeing into nearby bush paths in disarray.
The operation led to the rescue of 31 civilians, comprising 22 men, five women and four children, without casualties among the hostages or the troops.
The soldiers also recovered one motorcycle abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.
Following the rescue, troops dominated the area and conducted further exploitation operations but made no additional contact with the insurgents.
The rescued civilians, along with the four recovered vehicles and other personal belongings, were escorted to Buratai, where they were reunited and allowed to continue their journey.
Military sources said no casualties were recorded among the troops, while no confirmed terrorist casualties were observed during the engagement.
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