Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have rescued four firewood truck drivers kidnapped by suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) last Saturday.
The drivers were abducted near Ngwom village in Mafa Local Government Area, about 50 km east of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, in northeast Nigeria.
A chief in Ngwom village, who pleaded anonymity, said the drivers conveyed labourers, mostly wood fellers and loaders, to the bush when armed terrorists intercepted them.
The terrorists approached the drivers under the guise of needing their services to convey their members to a nearby village. However, the drivers and their passengers were soon taken hostage by the terrorists.
The troops 112 Task Force Battalion, Mafa, in conjunction with Civilian JTF and hunters departed Mafa and advanced toward Gullo village in search of the kidnapped victims on June 1, 2023, the source said.
On sighting the fighting troops, the terrorists abandoned the victims and fled as troops gave them a hot chase.
The fighting troops successfully rescued the four kidnapped victims and recovered the vehicles.
