Former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, has praised the Nigerian military, Borno State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for their roles in securing the release of 416 people, mostly women and children, abducted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Ngoshe community, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Ndume described the rescue operation as a major victory against insurgency and a source of relief for families whose loved ones had spent more than three months in captivity.
The victims were abducted on March 3, 2026, when insurgents attacked a military base in Ngoshe, wreaked havoc in the community and whisked away scores of residents. While some captives were rescued in earlier military operations around the Mandara Mountains, hundreds remained in captivity until their release on Saturday.
Reacting in a statement on Sunday, the Borno South senator expressed gratitude over the successful operation.
“Alhamdulillah, we thank God. All the Ngoshe captives have been released,” Ndume said.
He commended troops of Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, particularly the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Maiduguri, and the Commander of the 26 Task Force Brigade, Gwoza, for their commitment and sacrifices.
“The over 400 victims have been in captivity since March 3, 2026, and I am very happy to hear the good news of their safe release,” he added.
Ndume also applauded Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, for what he described as his relentless efforts in rebuilding Ngoshe and supporting both security forces and victims of insurgency.
He further expressed appreciation to the Director-General of NEMA, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, for providing relief materials to displaced persons affected by the attacks.
Despite celebrating the release of the captives, the senator urged the military and other security agencies not to relent in their efforts to rescue other victims still being held by terrorists.
He specifically called for intensified operations to secure the freedom of more than 40 pupils and students recently abducted from schools in Mussa village, Askira-Uba Local Government Area, as well as other captives across the North-East.
“However, I urge the military and other security agencies to intensify efforts in rescuing the over 40 pupils and students recently abducted in Mussa village and many others still in captivity,” he said.
Ndume also called on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to complement the efforts of the Borno State Government in rebuilding Ngoshe and other communities devastated by Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks.
He stressed that beyond military victories, sustained rehabilitation, reconstruction and humanitarian support remain critical to restoring normal life in communities affected by years of insurgency.
