Nigerian Troops Rescue 74 Stranded Corps Members from Boko Haram Stronghold

Seventy-four National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have escaped abduction by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists along the Buratai–Kamuya road in Borno State.

They escaped abduction through the swift intervention of troops of Operation Hadin Kai, a joint military operation against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in the North East.

The corps members comprised 36 males and 38 females.

The corps members had initially been escorted from Maiduguri to Damaturu by troops of the 7 Division Garrison, but they failed to inform Sector 2 Headquarters before proceeding to Hawul Local Government Area without an armed escort.

The Nation gathered that the group was on an evangelical mission to Hawul when the incident occurred.

Explaining the situation, the spokesperson of Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Col. Sani Uba, said the possible abduction of the corps members was foiled at about 9:05 p.m. on Tuesday after their vehicles broke down near a known kidnapping hotspot.

According to Uba, a military patrol team was swiftly deployed to the scene after a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system, monitored by troops, detected suspicious movement involving three buses at the location.

“On arrival, troops discovered 74 NYSC members stranded after their vehicles developed mechanical faults. The troops immediately rescued them to prevent a likely abduction attempt by Boko Haram or ISWAP elements operating in the area,” Uba said.

He said the rescued NYSC members are currently being accommodated at the Buratai military base, pending further arrangements for their safe movement.