Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum may have given a clearer picture and addressed some fundamental issues in the Press Release issued by the Nigerian Army on Saturday that caused mixed reactions among members of the public, especially Borno Youths under the umbrella body of Borno South Youth Alliance, BOSYA who had condemned the military for saying in the press release that its men rescued 360 out of the 416 women and children held hostage by the Boko haram terrorists based on intelligence driven efforts that made the terrorists to flee and abandoned their victims upon sighting the superior power of the men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, AFN, with some of the terrorists arrested, but, the State Governor, Babagana Zulum while speaking during his assessment visit to Pulka community on Monday, said, 434  victims out of the total numbers of people kidnapped early this year in Ngoshe community by the Boko Haram terrorists have regained freedom, specifically stating that; “357 captives walked free in the latest coordinated effort, other captives had been released in phases over the preceding months, bringing the total number of freed captives to 434”, this, we had reported that Youths in Borno State under the umbrella body of Borno South Youth Alliance, BOSYA has insisted that the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did nothing to secure the release of the 416 women and children held hostage by Boko Haram terrorists for more than 90 days they were taken into the bush since March 2026, also, the youth group dismissed and rejected the  report of the Nigerian Army who had alleged that its men rescued 360 out of the 416 people held hostage through intelligent driven efforts, saying, they have an audio record of the conversation they had with the Boko Haram terrorists on Friday June 5th, 2026 before the Boko Haram terrorists decided to release the captives willingly, adding, “If they paid ransom, they should come out and tell Nigerians, which we have the full details if ransoms was paid or not, as Senator Ali Ndume automatically started thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is there something Nigerians Need to know that is Hidden”, it maybe recalled that we have reported that barely a day after President Donald Trump of the United States of America, the USA announced the killing of Abu Bilal al-Minuki, the second in command of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, ISIS in a joint operation with Nigeria soldiers in Borno State, a new video of the abducted 416 women and children in Boko Haram captivity has been released in addition to a gory video earlier released by the terrorists wherein they beheaded almost six men who the insurgents said tried to escape among the kidnapped victims, this had led to public outcry and demonstrations, but according to Punch Newspaper, protesters are reportedly denied the rights to protest in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, saying, the Army reportedly deployed tanks and heavily armed personnel to Filling Polo, the venue of the recent planned protest, forcing the demonstrators to withdraw, quoting Samaila Kaigama, leader of the protesters, as saying; the atmosphere created by the military deployment made it impossible for citizens to continue with the demonstration, that the development is deeply disturbing in a constitutional democracy, it may also be recalled that we had reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria may have kept mute since more than 48 hours a faction of the Boko Haram terrorists showed off 416 people mostly women and children kidnapped and held hostage when the members of the Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad, JAS, launched a large scale combat actions between 4th to 6th March 2026 against the men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, AFN, overran the Africa country military base at Ngoshe, killing several soldiers, a figure the Nigeria authority disputed to be 14 after several reports indicated that more than 40 soldiers were killed during the attack, in addition to more than 100 civilians including Chief Iman of Ngoshe alongside the community elders killed during the coordinated attacks that lasted days at Ngoshe community in Gwoza local government area of Borno state, this, during the attacks, numbers of people were also taken hostage by the insurgents, with speculations indicating that the hostages are apparently being held at the rugged terrain of the Mandara Mountains, which sit wide across the Nigeria border with Cameroon, in the released video, one of the spokespersons of the Boko Haram group said they decided to release a proof of life video of the 416 women and children in their captivity, following the demands made across to them by the Borno South Youths Alliance, BOSYA, and according to the statement issued by the BOSYA when they made the video public on Friday April 10, 2026, the Youths group called on Federal Government and governments at all level to ensure the hostages are released, saying specifically that; “we have witnessed cases in states such as Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kebbi where abducted victims regained freedom following interventions by individuals such as Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, we therefore expect equal urgency and commitment in addressing the plight of the Ngoshe victims, no region or group of citizens should be treated with less priority”.

Dauda Iliya, the Spokesperson and Media  Adviser to the Borno State Governor, in a news release he issued and made available some hours ago, said the “Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his role in securing the freedom of 434 residents of Ngoshe community, who were abducted over a year ago during a violent raid on the town.

Speaking in Pulka on Monday, Governor Zulum confirmed that the latest release comprises 357 persons, while approximately 82 others had regained their freedom spontaneously in smaller batches over the period since their abduction. The victims were originally taken from Ngoshe, a border town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, following an attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents early this year.

Zulum particularly praised President Tinubu for his personal intervention and commitment towards restoring peace, which he said accelerated the negotiation and rescue process. “I want to express my deepest appreciation, on behalf of the government and people of Borno State and Gwoza community in particular, to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for all the efforts that he has been making in ensuring the return of peace and stability not only to Borno State but to the entire country,” Zulum stated.

Zulum also extended commendations to the Nigerian military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and all other security agencies involved in the operation, acknowledging their professionalism and coordination. “I also want to use this opportunity to commend the Nigerian Armed Forces, the office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Security and all other security agencies, including our gallant Civilian JTF, Forest Guards, Vigilante and Hunters, who have participated immensely in ensuring the release of these abducted men, women and children,” Zulum added.

He explained that while 357 captives walked free in the latest coordinated effort, other captives had been released in phases over the preceding months, bringing the total number of freed captives to 434.

“We are here to felicitate with Ngoshe community following the release of the abducted women and children numbering about 434. What we saw this morning is about 360 released two days ago. But some two to three weeks ago, we also received about other persons, totalling about 434,” Zulum explained.

According to the governor, “Government has released millions of naira to rehabilitate the Ngoshe community. So far, the work is nearly complete. We are also interfacing with the community about their return to Ngoshe; those that are willing to return, we are working with the Nigerian military to establish institutional arrangements that will ensure their safe and dignified return.”

Zulum also directed the distribution of relief materials, comprising food and non-food items, to all the released persons as part of the immediate intervention. The rescued individuals are currently receiving medical and psychological support in a government facility, after which they will be reintegrated into their communities”.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Army in a press statement tittled; “OPERATION HADIN KAI EXECUTES UNPRECEDENTED INTELLIGENCE-LED RESCUE OPERATION, FREES 360 ABDUCTEES FROM JAS STRONGHOLD IN THE MANDARA MOUNTAINS” had stated that “In one of the most significant hostage rescue operations conducted in the North East Theatre in recent times, troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), comprising Special Forces and troops of Sector 1, have successfully rescued 360 abductees from a heavily fortified Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) enclave deep within the Mandara Mountains area of southern Borno State. The operation, which was the culmination of weeks of painstaking intelligence preparation, covert reconnaissance, and operational planning, resulted 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. The successful rescue underscores the growing operational reach, intelligence dominance, and tactical superiority of OPHK in denying terrorists freedom of action and protecting vulnerable populations across the theatre.

The operation was initiated following the receipt of 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. 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. Through sustained intelligence collection and analysis, commanders developed a comprehensive understanding of the terrain, insurgent disposition, defensive arrangements, movement patterns, and the condition of the abductees. This intelligence-driven approach enabled the force to accurately map the objective area, identify vulnerabilities within the terrorist network, and significantly reduce risks to the hostages during the rescue mission.

A decisive breakthrough was achieved through the successful penetration of the terrorist network by carefully cultivated intelligence assets operating under the supervision of OPHK military intelligence personnel. These assets provided timely and actionable intelligence regarding the exact locations of the abductees, the disposition of insurgent commanders, internal security measures, and planned relocation routes. Simultaneously, carefully coordinated information and psychological operations created uncertainty and mistrust within the insurgent ranks, degrading their cohesion and disrupting command and control arrangements. The resulting intelligence advantage provided OPHK with unprecedented situational awareness and enabled commanders to shape the operational environment well before the commencement of the assault phase.

Acting on confirmed intelligence, OPHK Special Forces and troops of Sector 1 launched a meticulously coordinated multi-axis operation designed to isolate the objective area, dominate key terrain, and prevent insurgent reinforcement or withdrawal. Supported by real-time ISR feeds, assault forces infiltrated the objective area under the cover of darkness while blocking forces established positions along likely escape routes. The operation achieved complete tactical surprise, overwhelming the terrorists before an organised response could be mounted. 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.

The Military High Command has commended the courage, professionalism, and exceptional discipline displayed by all personnel involved in the operation. The Military High Command noted that the successful rescue of 360 abductees reflects the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations, the growing synergy among security stakeholders, and the unwavering resolve of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to protect innocent citizens and restore lasting peace to affected communities. The Military High Command further reassured the public that aggressive follow-on exploitation and clearance operations are ongoing to neutralise residual terrorist elements, dismantle remaining support networks, and prevent future abductions”, the military stated as signed and made available by Lieutenant Colonel Haruna Sani, the Acting Media Information Officer,
Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI.

President of Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama had in a number of press releases refuted the claim that the 360 women and children were rescued, saying, he had an audio conversation with the Boko Haram terrorists on Friday and during the conversation, the Boko Haram terrorists agreed to set free the captives with some still held hostage, hoping to be released on later date.