Nigerian troops have successfully freed 47 individuals, primarily women and children, who were being held captive by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State. The rescue operation took place in Kangarwa, a town suspected to harbor an ISWAP base in the Kukawa Local Government Area. This liberation was achieved through a series of ground and air assaults that compelled the militants to abandon their positions, allowing the hostages to escape.
The rescued hostages have been relocated to a secure facility for medical treatment, with plans in motion to provide them with humanitarian aid and assist in reuniting them with their families. The military’s efforts are part of a broader campaign to target ISWAP strongholds in the Lake Chad region. In a related development, the Nigerian army disclosed that in May, more than 175 ISIS militants were neutralized in combat operations.
Notably, military collaboration between Nigeria and the United States has been growing stronger in recent months. The partnership has seen joint efforts in intelligence gathering and operational support, as highlighted by AFRICOM Commander Dagvin Anderson during a congressional hearing in Washington. Furthermore, US President Donald Trump confirmed the elimination of the IS leader in a joint US-Nigeria mission, emphasizing the successful execution of a meticulously planned operation to remove a significant terrorist threat.
