NYSC members escape Boko Haram abduction in Borno after troops of Operation Hadin Kai intervene swiftly following bus breakdown

NYSC members escape Boko Haram abduction after troops of Operation Hadin Kai rescued seventy-four corps members from suspected terrorists along the Buratai–Kamuya road in Borno State.

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The corps members — 36 males and 38 females — narrowly escaped being kidnapped by Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters late on Tuesday, following a mechanical breakdown of their vehicles near a notorious abduction hotspot.

According to the spokesperson of Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the intervention occurred around 9:05 p.m. after a military surveillance team detected suspicious activity involving three stationary buses through a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system monitored by troops.

“On arrival, troops discovered 74 NYSC members stranded after their vehicles developed mechanical faults,” Uba said.

“The troops immediately rescued them to prevent a likely abduction attempt by Boko Haram or ISWAP elements operating in the area.”

The rescued corps members were subsequently moved to Buratai military base for protection and temporary accommodation, pending further transport arrangements.

Military sources confirmed that the troops’ rapid response was part of ongoing security reinforcement along major highways in the North-East, following an uptick in militant activity and targeted abductions.

In recent months, the Operation Hadin Kai task force has intensified patrols, launched precision air strikes, and dismantled several insurgent hideouts in Borno, Katsina, and Kwara States, in a sustained effort to neutralise terrorist threats and ensure civilian safety.

Security analysts praised the military’s swift operation as a decisive and life-saving response, noting that it prevented what could have been another tragic abduction of unarmed youth corps members deployed for national service.

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The NYSC authorities have yet to issue an official statement, but officials in Maiduguri confirmed that all 74 corps members are safe and in good health.