Troops of the Joint Task Force, North-East Operation Hadin Kai, have rescued 74 members of the National Youth Service Corps from what could have turned into a mass abduction by Boko Haram terrorists along the Buratai–Kamuya road in Borno State.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night when the corps members, travelling in three buses, were stranded after their vehicles broke down near a known insurgent hotspot.
Military sources told The PUNCH that the intervention followed a prompt response by troops who were alerted through a CCTV surveillance feed monitored by operatives at the command centre.
“On receiving the alert, a patrol team was immediately dispatched to the scene.
They found 74 corps members — 36 males and 38 females — stranded after their vehicles developed mechanical faults.
The troops swiftly secured the area and evacuated them to safety,” a source said.
It was gathered that the corps members had earlier been escorted by troops of the 7 Division Garrison from Maiduguri to Damaturu.
However, after reaching Damaturu, they reportedly proceeded to Hawul Local Government Area for an evangelical outreach without notifying Sector 2 Headquarters or obtaining another armed escort.
The NYSC members are currently being housed at the Buratai military base, pending arrangements for their onward movement under security protection.
This latest operation comes barely a week after the same troops rescued 86 kidnapped victims and arrested 29 suspected Boko Haram collaborators within the theatre of operations.