Troops of the Joint Task Force, North East Operation Hadin Kai, have rescued seventy-four members of the National Youth Service Corps from a possible abduction by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists along the Buratai–Kamuya road in Borno State.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night when the corps members’ buses broke down near an area known for frequent kidnappings. According to reports, the rescue operation happened around 9:05 p.m. after soldiers monitoring a CCTV feed noticed unusual movement involving three buses and swiftly deployed a patrol team to the location.
A security source confirmed that on arrival, the troops found seventy-four NYSC members — thirty-six males and thirty-eight females — stranded after their vehicles developed mechanical issues. The soldiers immediately moved in to avert what could have become an abduction attempt by the terrorists active in the area.
The corps members had earlier travelled under military escort from Maiduguri to Damaturu with the 7 Division Garrison. However, they reportedly continued their journey to Hawul Local Government Area without informing Sector 2 Headquarters or securing an armed escort.
It was gathered that the corps members were on an evangelical outreach to Hawul when the breakdown occurred. They are currently being housed at the Buratai military base while arrangements are made for their safe transportation to their destination.
This comes only a few days after the same military unit rescued eighty-six kidnapped victims and arrested twenty-nine suspected Boko Haram collaborators within the same operational zone.
