Troops Rescue 74 NYSC Members from Possible Abduction in Borno

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have rescued 74 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from what could have been a major abduction attempt by Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents in Borno State.

According to counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama, who shared details of the operation on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, the corps members — 36 males and 38 females — were rescued around 9:05 p.m. on Tuesday along the Buratai–Kamuya road, a known hotspot for terrorist activity.

Makama revealed that the group had been travelling in three buses when the vehicles broke down near the area. Surveillance footage from a military-monitored CCTV system detected unusual movement, prompting troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), North East Operation Hadin Kai, to respond swiftly.

“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,” the report said.

Further investigation showed that the corps members were on an evangelical mission to Hawul Local Government Area. They had earlier been escorted by soldiers from Maiduguri to Damaturu, but reportedly continued their journey without notifying Sector 2 Headquarters or requesting an armed escort — a breach of safety protocol in the insurgency-prone region.

The rescued corps members are currently being accommodated at the Buratai military base, where arrangements are underway to ensure their safe movement to their destination.

Military officials have commended the quick response of the troops, noting that the operation likely averted what could have been a tragic mass abduction.