Nigerian Troops Free 70 Captives in Jungle Operation

More than 70 people are waking up free today after Nigerian troops destroyed three hidden detention facilities controlled by terrorists in one of the country's most dangerous regions. The daring two-week mission reached deep into the Timbuktu Triangle, a dense stretch of Sambisa forest that had long been beyond the military's grasp.

Operation Desert Sanity V began on January 21, bringing together forces from Operation Hadin Kai, Nigeria's joint counter-insurgency task force. Intelligence-led teams pushed into territory controlled by the Islamic State West Africa Province, forcing fighters to abandon strongholds they'd held for years.

The three detention camps could hold up to 300 people at once, making them critical to the terrorist group's operations. When troops closed in, captives seized the chance to flee during firefights between soldiers and militants.

Jidda Ba Jidda from Kufi village was one of them. Kidnapped on December 22, he escaped during a gun battle and made his way home. Many others ran to nearby villages like Goniri, Buratai, and Mandaragirau, where they found safety and confirmed what had happened.

The military permanently demolished all three facilities to prevent terrorists from ever using them again. Thirty-two militants died in the clashes, including five senior commanders who coordinated detentions and ransom operations.

The Ripple Effect

Breaking the detention network does more than free captives today. It weakens the fear these groups use to control entire communities. When people see rescue is possible, when they know the military can reach even the deepest hideouts, hope returns to villages that had lived under constant threat.

The freed captives bring something equally valuable: information. Their knowledge of camp locations, terrorist movements, and hidden routes will help guide future operations, potentially leading to more rescues and safer communities across Borno and Yobe states.

This operation shows what coordinated effort and good intelligence can accomplish, even in terrain that seemed impossible to penetrate just weeks ago.