Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), working with forest guards, have rescued seven civilians abducted by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters from a forest hideout in Borno State.
Security sources said the victims were kidnapped on 19 January while gathering firewood near Ajiri Camp on the outskirts of Maiduguri.
The attackers reportedly intercepted them and marched them deep into the forest.
Two of the captives later escaped and returned to the camp to raise the alarm, while the terrorists released one of the abducted boys to deliver a ransom demand of N20 million to the community.
Following intelligence reports, forest guards operating alongside the DSS launched a rescue mission.
The operatives reportedly abandoned their motorcycles and trekked for nearly an hour to avoid detection before storming the terrorists’ enclave.
A gun battle ensued, forcing the ISWAP elements to flee and abandon the captives. All seven victims were rescued unharmed and have been handed over to relevant authorities for profiling and support.
The Commander of the Forest Guards, Hassan Modu, who coordinated the operation with the DSS, attributed the success to timely intelligence and effective collaboration.
“We moved quietly on foot and engaged them decisively. Once the terrorists realised we had closed in, they fled,” Modu said.
He commended the DSS for its support and urged residents to continue providing credible information to security agencies to curb criminal activities across the state.
The forest guards are a community-based auxiliary security outfit trained, equipped and supervised by the DSS.
The agency provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, conducts regular drills, and embeds officers to ensure discipline, professionalism and effective coordination during joint operations against terrorists and other criminal elements.
