In a dramatic operation that broke months of deadlock, hundreds of captives have been freed from a Boko Haram mountain lair in northeastern Nigeria. UK counter-terror specialists, deployed as part of a multinational advisory team, have been lauded for their role in planning the assault. The raid, which took place at dawn on Wednesday, targeted a fortified camp nestled in the Mandara Mountains near the Cameroon border.
Intelligence gathered by British experts helped pinpoint the location of the hostages, many of whom had been held for over two years. Among those rescued were 189 women and children, many showing signs of severe malnutrition and abuse. The operation marks a rare victory in the fight against the jihadist group, which still holds thousands captive across the region.
But for the families of the freed, the ordeal is far from over. “We have lost everything,” said Fatima, a 34-year-old mother of three, speaking from a displacement camp. “My husband was killed.
My children are sick. But at least we are alive.” The UK government has faced criticism for its role in Nigeria, with some questioning the long-term strategy.
But for now, the focus is on the rescued. And for those still in captivity, a glimmer of hope.
