Soldiers of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have rescued 53 civilians after dismantling a roadblock set up by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists along the Buratai–Kamuya road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.
The operation was carried out at approximately 3:45 p.m. on June 24, after troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion at Echo 1, Dutse Kura, detected the insurgents’ activity through a CCTV surveillance system and immediately deployed a Quick Response Force to the scene.
The terrorists, who had mounted the illegal roadblock along the Buratai–Kamuya axis, fled as troops closed in. Soldiers pursued them towards the Mangari–Dora general area, where a gun battle ensued, forcing the insurgents to abandon their position under sustained military fire.
A total of 53 civilians were rescued — 48 adults, comprising 20 men and 28 women, and five children. Troops also recovered eight vehicles abandoned by the terrorists during the operation.
Following the rescue, soldiers advanced approximately 10 kilometres along the insurgents’ withdrawal route, conducting clearance operations to secure the road for travellers. No further contact was made with the fleeing terrorists.
The rescued civilians and recovered vehicles were escorted to Buratai, from where the travellers continued their journeys. Military sources confirmed that no casualties or equipment losses were recorded during the operation.
The military described the outcome as a further demonstration of Operation HADIN KAI’s commitment to securing major highways, protecting civilians, and denying terrorists freedom of movement across the North-East. Despite a relatively calm overall security situation in the theatre, troops remain on high alert given the unpredictable nature of insurgent activities.
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