THE Borno State Government has dismissed claims that ransom was paid for the release of 360 abductees rescued from a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains in the southern part of the state.
Recall that after 90 days in captivity, troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), rescued the victims from a heavily fortified Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) enclave in the Mandara Mountains area.
Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Lt-Col. Haruna M. Sani, in a statement, described the operation as one of the most significant hostage rescue missions conducted in the North-East theatre in recent times.
He stated that the operation was the culmination of weeks of intelligence gathering, covert reconnaissance, and operational planning, resulting in the safe recovery of men, women and children, who had been held in captivity under harsh conditions after being abducted from several communities, particularly within the Ngoshe axis.
Sani stated that the operation was initiated following credible and corroborated intelligence from multiple sources indicating the precise location of the hostages and the existence of an elaborate insurgent support network sustaining the enclave, adding that OPHK intelligence elements subsequently launched an extensive target development process, involving the integration of Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations conducted through unmanned aerial systems and long-range reconnaissance patrols.
The statement said the operation achieved complete tactical surprise, overwhelming the terrorists before an organised response could be mounted, adding: “Faced with the speed, precision, and overwhelming combat power of the advancing troops, several insurgents abandoned their positions and fled into surrounding mountainous terrain, while others surrendered.
“The hostages were swiftly secured, medically screened and evacuated from the objective area.
“Regrettably, two infants succumbed to exhaustion occasioned by the extremely challenging mountainous terrain and the hardships endured during their prolonged captivity.
“The remaining rescued abductees were successfully evacuated to safe locations for medical care and humanitarian support, marking a major operational success and a significant setback for the terrorist group.”
Governor Babagana Zulum had immediately commended the military, particularly troops of OPHK, for the rescuing the victims.
However, Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, who made the clarification on Monday, during a television programme, insisted the operation was purely military-led and supported by intelligence from the Department of State Services (DSS).
The clarification followed suggestions that ransom may have been paid, which the government dismissed, questioning who would have paid and to whom, and demanded evidence.
The commissioner reiterated that no ransom exchange took place, noting that the state government continues to regard Boko Haram and other armed groups as criminal organisations responsible for terrorising civilians.
He lamented that the insurgency, which began with ideological motivations, has since evolved into a criminal enterprise driven by abduction, extortion and exploitation.
Tar added that in the government’s view, the groups are now simply criminals bent on vandalising communities and destabilising the state, pledging continued efforts to counter their activities.
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