NIGERIA: Troops Rescue 74 Stranded NYSC Members In Borno

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

In a swift and decisive operation, troops of the Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI rescued 74 stranded National Youth Service Corps members along the Buratai – Kamuya road in Borno State on Tuesday night.

The corps members, consisting of 36 males and 38 females, were travelling in three buses when their vehicles broke down around 9:05 pm near a forested area known as the Borko Haram crossing point, a notorious hotspot for terrorist activity.

The rescue was triggered by vigilant monitoring through a Closed-Circuit Television system, which detected unusual movement of the buses.

Troops immediately activated a heavy patrol team to the location. Upon arrival, they found the corps members stranded due to mechanical faults in their vehicles.

Acting promptly, the soldiers secured the area, successfully evacuating all 74 individuals and preventing what could have been a potential abduction by terrorists operating in the axis.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the corps members had been escorted from Maiduguri to Damaturu by troops of the 7 Division Garrison earlier that day.

However, after reaching Damaturu, they continued their journey toward Hawul Local Government Area without informing Sector 2 Headquarters or securing an armed escort from security agencies, a decision that left them vulnerable in the high-risk zone.

The rescued corps members have since been safely evacuated and are currently being accommodated at the Buratai Military Base, where they await further arrangements for secure transportation to their final destinations.

The Nigerian Army has reiterated its unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and property of all citizens, vowing to maintain a robust security presence across operational areas in the North East to deny terrorists freedom of movement and ensure sustained peace in the region.

Authorities have urged the public to continue cooperating with troops engaged in these critical security efforts.