Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued four civilians, comprising two women, a male teenager and a male minor, who were reportedly abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and held captive for about three years in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, reported that the troops rescued the victims at about 6am on Friday during a search-and-rescue operation.

The publication said the operation followed credible human intelligence on the movement of suspected terrorist escapees around Kauwa village.

According to Makama, during a preliminary debriefing, the victims told troops that they were abducted by insurgents from Mafa LGA about three years ago and taken to the Dogon Chuku terrorist camp, where they remained until their rescue.

The rescued persons were reportedly provided with food and subsequently profiled by the troops.

They are currently receiving medical attention at the 19 Brigade Medical Centre before being moved to the Theatre Headquarters for further interrogation and necessary assistance, the publication said.

Makama said the rescue was part of sustained search-and-rescue and clearance operations by troops of Operation Hadin Kai and the Multinational Joint Task Force to locate civilians held in terrorist enclaves and dismantle insurgent networks around the Lake Chad Basin.

The latest operation, he added, highlights the continued efforts by troops to exploit intelligence on movements around terrorist-held areas and rescue persons who have remained in captivity for prolonged periods.

The rescued civilians are expected to undergo further screening and debriefing to establish additional details about their captivity and terrorist activities in the area.