A major abduction operation along a highway in Borno State was foiled by Nigerian Army troops, who rescued 119 civilians, including 15 children, and recovered eight vehicles seized by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
The rescue followed a military encounter with insurgents who had blocked the Dutsen Kura–Bulazarma–Kamuya road and were reportedly abducting motorists and passengers.
The operation was carried out on Friday by troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion, 27 Task Force Brigade, Sector 2, during a surveillance patrol along the route.
A military source disclosed that the victims comprised 69 men, 35 women and 15 children.
According to the source, troops sighted the terrorists stopping vehicles and taking civilians hostage, prompting the immediate deployment of the battalion’s Special Forces Quick Reaction Force, alongside another response team from the 27 Task Force Brigade Headquarters.
The troops advanced through the Mangari–Dora route in pursuit of the attackers, engaging them in a confrontation that reportedly forced the insurgents to abandon their captives and flee.
The military response led to the rescue of all 119 civilians and recovery of eight vehicles.
The rescued persons were subsequently reunited with their families.
However, the operation also exposed another security threat along the route.
The source said troops discovered an improvised explosive device (IED) around the Bam Buratai junction–Bula Zarma general area while withdrawing from the operation.
The discovery underscores the danger of explosive devices often planted along routes used by civilians and security personnel in insurgency-affected communities.
The latest operation represents another intervention by troops to prevent civilian abductions and disrupt insurgent activities along major roads in Borno State.