Rescued girls
A wave of relief swept through communities in southern Borno after troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) successfully freed 12 young girls abducted by ISWAP fighters in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno.
The girls, aged between 15 and 20, were kidnapped on November 23 while harvesting crops on their family farmlands in Mussa District.
Their abduction sent shockwaves across the area, prompting dozens of residents to flee to nearby villages in fear of further attacks.
Military sources according to Zagazola reports, noted that the rescue followed intensified clearance operations targeting ISWAP cells still operating within the rugged southern Borno axis.
The troops reportedly tracked the terrorists to a remote hideout, where they engaged the insurgents and secured the release of the captives.
The rescued girls have been identified as: Fatima Shaibu (17), Fatima Umaru (15), Hauwa Abubakar (18), Saliha Muhammed (15), Sadiya Umaru (17), Amira Babel (15), Zara Adamu (17), Nana Shaibu (15), Zainab Musa (18), Zainab Muhammed (17), Jamila Saidu (15), and Hauwa Hamidu (17).
All twelve have been moved to a protected military location for medical checks and debriefing before being reunited with their families.
For parents and relatives who had waited anxiously for a week with little hope, the rescue felt nothing short of a miracle. Many described the operation as a “major emotional breakthrough,” thanking the troops for restoring a sense of safety after days of fear and uncertainty.
Security officials say the operation is part of renewed efforts to dismantle ISWAP camps responsible for repeated kidnappings and attacks in the region.
