In a notable achievement by the Joint Task Force North East (NE) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), the Headquarters Theatre Command handover 350 rescued civilians to the Borno State Government on May 20, 2024, at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri.
Captain Reuben Kovangiya, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, announced in a press statement that the rescued individuals included 6 adult males, 135 females, and 209 children. They were liberated during clearance and offensive operations conducted by OPHK troops in the Sambisa forest.
Deputy Theatre Commander Major General Kenneth Chigbu, representing the Theatre Commander, commended the troops for their professionalism. He also expressed gratitude to international and local partners, along with the Borno State Government, for their support of military operations in the North East.
Major General Chigbu highlighted that the event marks another significant achievement for JTF NE OPHK under the leadership of Theatre Commander Major General Waidi Shaibu.
Hajjiya Y'arbauchi, Director of Social Welfare at the Ministry of Women Affairs, Borno State, received the rescued civilians. She expressed her appreciation to the military for their coordinated efforts and stated that the rescued individuals would be taken to an Internally Displaced Persons Camp for profiling, medical examinations, and skill acquisition training before reuniting with their families.
The handover follows the recent transfer of 44 individuals to the Borno State Government by OPHK, showcasing the military's dedication to civilian protection and counterterrorism efforts in the region.
The event was in the attendance of senior officers from the Headquarters Theatre Command and 7 Division, as well as members of the Borno State Government.
