Troops Rescue 360 Abducted Women, Children in Borno

Troops of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, working alongside Special Operations Forces, have rescued about 360 abducted women and children from terrorist captivity during a major operation in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The rescue operation, carried out on June 6, targeted several terrorist hideouts in the Mandara Mountains, a rugged border region that has long served as a sanctuary for Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters.

Military sources said the rescued civilians were among residents of Ngoshe community who were abducted by terrorists during a deadly attack on March 3, 2026. The victims, mostly women and children, had spent months in captivity before troops successfully secured their freedom.

According to security sources, the operation began with a series of coordinated missions by Special Operations Forces aimed at disrupting terrorist activities and weakening insurgent positions within the mountainous terrain.

The preliminary missions reportedly created the conditions for troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade to move into the area and extract the captives from multiple locations.

The latest operation marks one of the largest rescue missions conducted by Operation Hadin Kai in recent months and is seen as a significant boost to ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks operating in Nigeria’s North-East region.

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Prior to the latest breakthrough, military authorities had announced the rescue of several groups of abductees from the same Ngoshe attack during separate operations across the Mandara Mountains. Those earlier missions were part of sustained offensives designed to weaken insurgent strongholds and recover civilians held against their will.

Despite the success of the operation, military sources disclosed that two infants died during the evacuation process due to the difficult terrain encountered while moving the rescued victims to safety.

The challenging landscape of the Mandara Mountains, characterised by steep slopes and inaccessible routes, has remained one of the major obstacles confronting troops in counterterrorism operations in the area.

A military source said all rescued civilians underwent immediate medical screening upon arrival at a secure location.

“Those requiring urgent medical attention were stabilised by brigade medical personnel and admitted to the General Hospital, Gwoza, for treatment,” the source said.

The victims were also provided with food, water and other humanitarian assistance before being moved to a secure holding facility for documentation, profiling and eventual reunification with their families.

Security officials described the operation as both a humanitarian and military success, noting that it not only secured the freedom of hundreds of civilians but also dealt another blow to terrorist groups operating in the region.

Military authorities said sustained pressure from ground offensives, intelligence-led operations and air interdiction missions continues to degrade terrorist capabilities across the North-East.

They added that troops remain on high alert and are maintaining operational momentum to rescue more captives, destroy terrorist enclaves and prevent future attacks on vulnerable communities.

The latest rescue is expected to bring relief to families affected by the Ngoshe attack and reinforce confidence in ongoing efforts to restore peace and security across Borno State and the wider North-East region.

Troops Rescue 360 Abducted Women, Children in Borno

Joe Igbokwe Denies Attack at Ladipo Market, Blames Hostility on Politics

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has dismissed reports that he was physically attacked at Ladipo Market in Lagos, insisting that the incident was merely a display of hostility allegedly driven by political differences.

The former Lagos APC publicity secretary made the clarification following widespread reports on social media claiming that he was assaulted during a visit to the popular spare-parts market in the Mushin area of Lagos State.

Speaking on the incident, Igbokwe said no one laid hands on him despite a tense situation that developed after some traders and residents recognized him at the market.

According to him, the crowd’s reaction was likely linked to his political affiliation and his outspoken views on national issues.

“There was no mob attack. Nobody touched my body. It was just that they were making noise and people tried to caution them,” he said.

The APC stalwart suggested that some individuals may have targeted him because of his long-standing association with the ruling party and his public commentary on political matters.

“Maybe politics. Maybe because I am an APC man. Maybe because I don’t like the politics they play. Make friends with major ethnic groups, and that is how you can rule Nigeria, but it is not forthcoming,” he added.

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Igbokwe further lamented that many people often misinterpret his comments and advice, viewing them as hostile even when they are intended to promote understanding and national unity.

“There are things we saw during the first civil war. If you advise them, you will become an enemy. You become a saboteur,” he said.

Recounting how the incident unfolded, Igbokwe explained that he had visited Ladipo Market to purchase a spare part for his vehicle. He said that after buying the item and returning to his vehicle, some people began pointing at him and drawing attention to his presence.

“Some people were pointing fingers at me. Some were saying something. I ignored them and went in search of the part,” he recalled.

“I saw the part and went back to my vehicle to fix it. The people just started gathering and shouting, ‘This is Joe Igbokwe.’ I ignored them. They started coming towards me, so I moved away and went to my friend’s shop.”

According to him, the growing crowd prompted his friend to contact the market leadership, who intervened and helped calm the situation.

“My friend went to call the leadership of the market. After that, I drove away,” he stated.

Igbokwe maintained that while the incident was uncomfortable, reports claiming he was beaten or physically assaulted were false.

“I saw reports on Facebook claiming that I was beaten, but I was not beaten. I pray that it does not happen again,” he said.

When asked whether he believed the confrontation was politically motivated, the APC chieftain answered in the affirmative.

“Yes. They know I have been very vocal in our party, the APC. I was the publicity secretary for many years. We are progressives; we cannot change. I have been consistent in where I stand,” he said.

The incident has since sparked discussions on social media, with supporters condemning the hostility directed at the politician, while others argued that public figures often face strong reactions because of their political positions.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from security authorities regarding the incident.

Joe Igbokwe Denies Attack at Ladipo Market, Blames Hostility on Politics