Nigerian forces have liberated more than 800 civilians from a Boko Haram enclave in the northern mountains, the military confirmed on Tuesday. The operation, which began on Monday, targeted the Sambisa Forest stronghold, a long-held bastion of the insurgent group.
According to Colonel Sani Usman, the army spokesman, troops backed by air support engaged militants in a series of firefights. “We have rescued 848 people, mostly women and children,” he said in a statement. “The terrorists fled, abandoning their captives and equipment.”
The rescued individuals are being processed at a forward operating base where they will undergo medical screening and debriefing before relocation to internally displaced persons camps. The military reports no casualties among security personnel, though the number of insurgent dead remains unconfirmed.
The offensive marks a significant tactical shift. Previous operations in the Sambisa region were hampered by dense vegetation and treacherous terrain. The military’s use of precision strikes and ground forces in tandem appears to have yielded results.
Humanitarian organisations have welcomed the rescue but stress the long-term challenges. Boko Haram has displaced over two million people in the Lake Chad basin since 2009, with the insurgency spilling across borders into Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. The group has splintered into factions, including one aligned with Islamic State, complicating counter-insurgency efforts.
Analysts point to the operation’s timing. Presidential elections are scheduled for February 2019, and the Buhari administration has faced criticism over its handling of security. The success of this offensive could boost the president’s standing ahead of the vote.
However, military analysts caution against over-optimism. “Rescuing hostages is one thing,” said Dr. Adebayo Olaniyi, a security expert at the University of Lagos. “Sustaining attrition against a guerrilla force embedded in remote mountains is another. The army must hold the territory it recaptures.”
International reaction has been measured. A spokesman for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs commended the Nigerian military while urging “full respect for human rights” during operations. The US Africa Command, which has provided intelligence and logistical support, declined to comment on operational specifics.
As darkness fell over the Sambisa region, the firing had subsided. But for the families of the tens of thousands still missing, the silence offers little solace.
