Atiku Applauds Rescue of 360 Abductees in Borno, Calls for More Action

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar has welcomed the rescue of 360 abductees from terrorist captivity in Borno State, describing the operation as a major victory against insurgency and a source of hope for thousands of Nigerians affected by insecurity.

The hostages were rescued by troops of Operation HADIN KAI during a carefully coordinated military operation in the Mandara Mountains, a rugged terrain long regarded as one of the strongholds of terrorist groups operating in the North-East. The victims had been abducted following a deadly Boko Haram attack on a military formation in Ngoshe earlier this year.

During the attack, insurgents reportedly overran the base, destroyed operational vehicles and abducted residents from surrounding communities.

Reacting to the development, Atiku expressed relief that the victims had finally regained their freedom after months in captivity.

"I am elated at reports of the rescue of 360 persons who were abducted by terrorists in Ngoshe, Borno State," he said.

He noted that the successful operation brought an end to months of anguish suffered by both the abductees and their families.

"Even as this brings to an end the ordeal of the abductees and the anguish of their loved ones since they were abducted in March, we are still faced with threats from terrorism and banditry attacks."

The former vice president commended the military and other security agencies involved in the mission, describing their efforts as evidence of what can be achieved through determination, planning and operational coordination.

Military authorities have described the operation as one of the largest hostage rescue missions carried out in the North-East in recent years.

According to security sources, the rescue followed weeks of intelligence gathering, surveillance and covert planning before troops launched the operation that led to the safe recovery of men, women and children held in difficult conditions.

While celebrating the success, Atiku stressed that much work remains to be done. He called on authorities to intensify efforts to rescue other Nigerians still being held by terrorists and kidnappers across the country.

Among those he specifically mentioned were schoolchildren and teachers reportedly abducted in parts of Oyo and Borno states. The former vice president also renewed calls for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria's security architecture.

He argued that intelligence gathering, technological capabilities and proactive security measures must become central pillars of the country's counter-terrorism strategy.

"More importantly, I call for a rejig of our security architecture that places emphasis on intelligence, technology and preemptive actions that nip terrorist and bandit attacks in the bud before they are carried out," he said.

As Nigeria continues to confront multiple security threats, the rescue operation offers a rare moment of optimism and a reminder of the critical role intelligence-led operations can play in saving lives and weakening insurgent networks.