The Borno State government has firmly rejected allegations that a ransom was paid to secure the freedom of 360 people held captive by a Boko Haram faction. Officials clarified that the hostages were freed strictly through a precision, intelligence-led military operation in the Mandara Mountains.
The rescued citizens—including men, women, and children—had been abducted across multiple communities near the Ngoshe axis and were held under severe conditions. The rescue was executed by troops of the Joint Task Force North East under Operation Hadin Kai, working alongside special forces and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The state’s Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, strongly refuted any financial settlement during an appearance on Channels Television. "Who paid the ransom? And the ransom was paid to whom? Where is the evidence?" Tar questioned. "We are the operatives on the ground. There was no ransom payment."
According to an official military statement, the successful operation followed weeks of sustained intelligence gathering, covert reconnaissance, and detailed strategic planning. Military authorities characterised the raid as a major operational milestone and a severe blow to the structural support networks of the insurgents.
Tragically, the extreme conditions of the mountainous terrain took a toll on the youngest captives. Operation Hadin Kai spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Haruna Sani confirmed that two infants succumbed to exhaustion during the rescue and evacuation process. Sani added that the surviving individuals were promptly transferred to secure facilities to receive medical aid and humanitarian support.
The captors are believed to belong to the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) faction of Boko Haram. State authorities emphasised that the group's motives have fundamentally shifted over the years. Tar observed that the network has transformed from its initial ideological foundation into a highly structured, profit-driven criminal enterprise.
The state government reaffirmed its stance to view the attackers solely as criminals and vowed to sustain aggressive military operations until the region is fully stabilised.