Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) North East Operation HADIN KAI have rescued 74 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who were stranded along the Buratai–Kamuya road in Borno State.
The incident occurred around 9:05 p.m. on Tuesday when three buses carrying the corps members broke down near a forested area known as the Boko Haram crossing point.
Surveillance teams monitoring the area via Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) detected unusual movement and immediately dispatched a heavily armed patrol unit to the scene.
Upon arrival, the troops found 36 male and 38 female corps members stranded due to mechanical faults in their vehicles.
The soldiers secured the area and successfully evacuated all individuals, effectively thwarting a potential abduction attempt by terrorists known to operate in the region.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the corps members had earlier been escorted from Maiduguri to Damaturu by troops of the 7 Division Garrison.
However, they continued their journey to Hawul Local Government Area without notifying Sector 2 Headquarters or securing an armed escort, which is standard protocol in high-risk zones.
The rescued individuals are currently being housed at the Buratai Military Base while arrangements are made for their safe onward travel.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, emphasising its ongoing efforts to maintain a robust security presence across the North East. Citizens are encouraged to cooperate with security forces to enhance collective safety and peace in the region.
