Zulum commends Nigerian military over rescue of 360 abductees in Borno

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, praised the Nigerian military—especially the troops of Operation Hadin Kai—for rescuing 360 abductees from the Mandara Mountains, a known terrorist stronghold in the state’s southern region.

In a statement released on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, Zulum described the operation as a display of courage, professionalism and intelligence‑driven action in the fight against insurgency in the North‑East.

The governor said the mission, which brought hundreds of men, women and children back from captivity, has renewed hope among affected communities and reinforced the joint efforts of the federal and state governments, together with the military, to achieve lasting peace.

He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, and the troops involved for their gallantry and sacrifice.

Zulum called the rescue of the 360 abductees from a Boko Haram stronghold a major breakthrough, emphasizing the effectiveness of inter‑agency collaboration and the security forces’ commitment to ensuring no citizen remains in captivity.

The governor reaffirmed the state government’s pledge to support the military and other security agencies with logistics to sustain ongoing counter‑insurgency operations.

He also urged residents of Mussa in Askira‑Uba Local Government Area to stay hopeful, noting that efforts were underway to secure the release of abducted schoolchildren in the region.

Zulum further urged residents to remain vigilant, cooperate with security agencies, and provide credible intelligence to aid ongoing operations against criminal groups.

It should be recalled that on March 4, suspected armed men attacked a military base in Ngoshe, burning operational vehicles, dispersing troops, killing an unspecified number of persons and abducting several others.