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Troops nab suspected terrorists, rescue six kidnap victims in North-East

According to the statement, the suspects are currently undergoing further investigation.

• June 14, 2026
Nigerian troops
Nigerian troops

Troops of the Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai said they arrested suspected terrorist collaborators and rescued six abducted victims across the North-East.

The Nigerian Army, in a post on X on Saturday, said a well-coordinated offensive and security operation was conducted between June 11 and 12, 2026, against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists.

“The operations resulted in the rescue of abducted civilians, arrest of suspected terrorist collaborators and logistics suppliers, recovery of arms and operational stores, as well as the decisive defeat of multiple terrorist attempts to undermine security within the theatre,” the statement reads.

The Army noted that troops of Sector 2, while conducting fighting and perimeter-clearance patrols around the Amuda general area on June 11, 2026, rescued three abducted children identified as Ali Usman, 15; Umar Ibrahim Abubakar, 15; and Fatima Abubakar, 12.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims escaped from terrorist enclaves at SAHA and CHINENE in the Mandara Mountains following sustained military offensives that have continued to degrade and dislocate insurgent strongholds across the region. After profiling and documentation, the children were safely reunited with community leaders in Ngoshe,” it added.

Similarly, on June 12, 2026, troops of Sector 3 swiftly responded to a terrorist kidnapping attempt along the Damasak–Gubio Main Supply Route and successfully rescued six civilians abandoned by fleeing terrorists following aggressive troop pursuit around the Kareto area.

The Army added that troops of the 68 Battalion in Mallam Fatori thwarted an attempted terrorist reconnaissance mission after ambushing suspected ISWAP scouts and recovering an AK-47 rifle with a loaded magazine containing 31 rounds of ammunition.

“Concurrently, troops of Sector 3 operating at Checkpoint 61 intercepted eleven suspects travelling in two civilian vehicles under suspicious circumstances,” the statement reads.

“Preliminary investigations linked the individuals to attempts at recovering vehicles belonging to known terrorist logistics collaborators previously sighted supporting insurgent activities around Ali Sheriffti.”

In a related operation, troops of Sector 2 at Mandaragirau arrested a suspected terrorist logistics courier, Malahi Liman Muhammad, along the Mandaragirau–Sabon Gari axis.

The Army said large quantities of herbicides, blankets, salt, food supplies, mobile phones, and other materials believed to be intended for terrorist sustenance and operational support were recovered. It added that the suspects are currently undergoing further investigation.

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