Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Hadin Kai have rescued a serving councillor from Biu Local Government Area of Borno State and an Islamic cleric abducted by suspected terrorists.
The rescue was disclosed in a post shared on X on Thursday by security analyst Zagazola Makama.
According to the post, the victims were among seven civilians abducted on Tuesday evening along the Buni Gari–Buratai road when armed men attacked travellers on the route.
Makama reported that troops of the 27 Task Force Brigade, in collaboration with the 135 Special Forces Battalion and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), launched a search-and-rescue operation early on Wednesday after receiving information about the incident.
During the operation, the troops reportedly located two of the abducted victims who had been abandoned by the terrorists near Mangari village after the assailants detected the movement of security forces towards their hideout.
The rescued persons were identified as Alhaji Mohammed Ali Maiakachi, a councillor representing Zera/Wuyep Ward in Biu Local Government Area, and Mallam Aliyu Yusuf, an Islamic scholar and Chairman of Shuaaraul Islam in Borno State.
The troops were said to have pursued the fleeing terrorists for several kilometres, but no contact was made.
Information obtained from the rescued victims indicated that five other civilians remain in captivity.
“Those still in captivity reportedly include the immediate past and current Vice Chairmen of Biu Local Government Area, as well as three women,” Makama wrote.
The rescued victims were taken to a medical facility for treatment before being conveyed to Biu, where they were reunited with their families.
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Makama added that efforts by the military and other security agencies to secure the release of the remaining abducted persons are ongoing.
