Nigeria Rescues 92 Hostages in Anti-Terror Operation in Borno State

Nigerian authorities have rescued 92 civilians held hostage by Boko Haram and Daesh-linked terrorists during operations in Borno State. The military said the rescue, carried out under Operation Hadin Kai with surveillance support, freed 52 men, 33 women, and 7 children. Officials say operations against insurgents in northeastern Nigeria are ongoing.

Nigerian authorities have rescued 92 civilians who were being held hostage by Boko Haram and Daesh-affiliated terrorist groups during military operations carried out in Borno State, in the country’s northeast.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, media information officer for Operation Hadin Kai, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday. He said the rescue mission formed part of ongoing counterterrorism operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and freeing civilians held in captivity.
Operation Hadin Kai, the Nigerian military’s main counterinsurgency campaign in the northeast, conducted coordinated strikes against identified terrorist positions and hideouts. The operations were supported by surveillance systems and intelligence gathering, which helped locate areas where civilians were being held.
According to the military, a total of 92 hostages were freed during the operation. The rescued individuals include 52 men, 33 women, and seven children. Officials said the civilians were recovered from different locations, suggesting they had been held in multiple camps or makeshift detention sites.
Authorities described the rescue as part of broader efforts to weaken Boko Haram and Daesh-linked factions that continue to operate in remote areas of northeastern Nigeria. These groups have carried out repeated attacks over the years, including kidnappings, raids on villages, and assaults on security forces.
Borno State remains one of the worst-affected regions in the long-running insurgency. The area has been a central base for Boko Haram since the group’s emergence, and later became a hotspot for splinter factions aligned with Daesh (Islamic State).
Thousands of civilians have been abducted during the conflict, with many used as forced labour, human shields, or bargaining tools. While Nigerian forces have conducted numerous rescue missions over the years, a significant number of people are still believed to be in captivity.
Military officials said recent operations have increasingly relied on improved intelligence and surveillance technology, including coordinated air and ground support, to track militant movements and locate hostages in remote terrain.
Despite ongoing military pressure, insurgent groups continue to carry out attacks in parts of the northeast, particularly in rural communities and areas around the Lake Chad Basin, contributing to ongoing insecurity and displacement.
Lieutenant Colonel Uba said the military remains committed to sustaining operations against terrorist groups and prioritising the rescue of civilians still being held. He added that further operations would continue in identified hotspots to restore stability and security in the region.