Troops of the Joint Task Force, North-East Operation Hadin Kai, have rescued 74 members of the National Youth Service Corps who were stranded along the Buratai–Kamuya Road in Borno State after their vehicles broke down near a notorious abduction zone.
The Media Information Officer of the Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday, saying the intervention averted a potential attack by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists.
According to Uba, the corps members — comprising 36 males and 38 females — were rescued around 9:05 p.m. on Tuesday after military surveillance systems detected unusual movement involving three buses in the area.
He said, “A military patrol team was immediately deployed after troops monitoring the closed-circuit television system observed suspicious activity near Buratai. Upon arrival, the team found 74 NYSC members stranded after their vehicles developed mechanical faults.”
Uba added that the troops swiftly evacuated the corps members to safety, preventing what could have been a “likely abduction attempt” by insurgents operating within the axis.
“The rescued corps members are currently being sheltered at the Buratai military base, where arrangements are being made for their onward movement to safer locations,” he stated.
This rescue comes just days after troops of the same Task Force freed 86 kidnapped victims and arrested 29 suspected terrorist logistics suppliers during coordinated clearance operations in Borno State.
In a separate statement earlier in the week, Uba explained that troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion encountered Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters on November 9 at Dutse Kura while the terrorists were abducting civilians and vehicles along the same Buratai–Kamuya Road.
He noted, “The soldiers overpowered the insurgents after a fierce exchange, forcing them to flee. The operation led to the destruction of 11 makeshift camps and the rescue of 86 hostages, including men, women, and children.”
Recovered items from the operation included an AK-47 rifle, five magazines containing 73 rounds, PKT ammunition belts, civilian vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and logistics tricycles.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety of citizens and restoring peace across the North-East region through continued surveillance and proactive operations.
