KEY POINTS

• More than 400 women and children abducted by Boko Haram have been freed following a military operation in the Mandara Mountains.
• The victims were kidnapped during attacks on Ngoshe community in March 2026 and held in insurgent camps for months.
• Survivors are receiving medical and psychological support, although two infants reportedly died during captivity.

Hundreds of people abducted by Boko Haram insurgents have regained their freedom following a major military operation targeting terrorist hideouts in the Mandara Mountains of Borno State.

The operation, which forced insurgents to abandon their strongholds, led to the release of a large number of captives, most of whom were women and children taken during attacks on communities in the Gwoza axis earlier this year.

The mass liberation is being regarded as a significant achievement in ongoing efforts to combat insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East region.

The victims were abducted during a series of attacks carried out between March 3 and March 4, 2026, along the Ngoshe-Gwoza corridor, an area that has experienced repeated attacks by insurgent groups.

After spending months in captivity under difficult conditions, the hostages were freed following a targeted military offensive conducted by special forces in the mountainous region.

Military sources indicated that sustained pressure on the insurgents forced them to abandon their fortified positions, creating an opportunity for the captives to regain their freedom.

Conflicting Figures Over Number Rescued

While community leaders reported that 416 women and children were released from the insurgents’ enclave, Defence Headquarters provided a slightly different figure.

According to military authorities, troops rescued 360 hostages comprising men, women, and children from a faction of Boko Haram known as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS).

Security observers believe the figures may refer to different segments of the same large-scale rescue operation conducted across the rugged Mandara Mountains.

The successful operation was confirmed by political leaders and community representatives in Borno State.

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, acknowledged the widespread release of the captives following the military offensive.

Similarly, the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, stated that all 416 women and children abducted from Ngoshe had been successfully freed.

The confirmations brought relief to families and communities that had spent months awaiting news of their loved ones.

Despite the successful rescue, officials disclosed that the period of captivity came at a significant human cost.

According to reports from military and medical authorities, two infants died as a result of severe exhaustion and the harsh living conditions endured within the insurgent camps.

The disclosure highlights the difficult circumstances faced by many captives held in remote terrorist hideouts across the region.