Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has praised the Nigerian military, especially troops of Operation Hadin Kai, for successfully rescuing about 360 people who were kidnapped and held in the Mandara Mountains, a well-known terrorist hideout in southern Borno.
In a statement released on Sunday through his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, the governor described the operation as a bold and well-planned mission driven by strong intelligence and courage from the troops involved.
According to him, the rescue of men, women, and children who were held captive by terrorists has brought relief to affected communities and renewed hope in the ongoing fight to end insurgency in the North-East.
Zulum appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, and all soldiers involved in the successful operation, praising their bravery and sacrifice.
He said the rescue of the 360 abductees from a Boko Haram stronghold marks a major achievement and shows the strength of cooperation between security agencies working to restore peace in the region.
The governor also assured that the Borno State Government will continue to support the military and other security agencies with logistics and resources to strengthen ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
He further appealed to residents of Mussa in Askira-Uba Local Government Area to stay hopeful, noting that efforts are still ongoing to secure the release of schoolchildren abducted in the area.
Zulum urged citizens to remain alert, work closely with security forces, and share useful information that can help in the fight against armed groups.
It will be recalled that on March 4, suspected gunmen attacked a military base in Ngoshe, destroying vehicles, killing some personnel, and abducting others during the assault.