Nigerian forces, working alongside regional security units, have freed more than 300 captives from a Boko Haram enclave in the Sambisa Forest region of Borno State. The operation, codenamed Operation Clean Sweep, targeted a fortified mountain hideout that had served as a major detention centre for the Islamist militant group for several years.
British counter-terrorism advisers, stationed in the region as part of a joint training mission, described the raid as a textbook example of intelligence-led warfare. They emphasised the operation’s reliance on satellite imagery, signals intelligence, and defector testimony. No UK personnel participated directly in the assault, but British officials confirmed they had provided logistical support and strategic guidance.
The freed captives included women, children, and elderly men, many showing signs of severe malnourishment and trauma. Local medical teams have established triage centres to treat the most critical cases. Officials said they are also working to reunite families and verify identities.
Boko Haram has killed more than 30,000 people since 2009 and has been responsible for mass kidnappings, including the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in 2014. The group’s Sambisa stronghold has been a persistent challenge for Nigerian forces, given its rugged terrain and minefields. This operation is viewed as a strategic blow to the group’s operational capacity.
The UK Foreign Office reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria in countering terrorism, noting that the collaboration between Nigerian forces and international partners remains central to stabilising the Lake Chad Basin. The freed captives are being processed at a reception centre in Maiduguri, where aid agencies are providing psychological and material support.
