Troops rescue 11-year-old girl taken for spying in Borno

An 11-year-old girl allegedly abducted by suspected terrorists and taken on a mission to gather information on Nigerian troops has been rescued in Borno State.

The girl, identified as Aisha Mustafa, was found by troops of the 82 Division Task Force Battalion during a patrol in the Armuda general area of Gwoza Local Government Area.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the rescue occurred at about 1:41 a.m. on September 4, 2026.

The sources said Aisha was among three people allegedly taken from Mountain Village in Saha by two suspected terrorists.

Preliminary findings indicated that the suspects allegedly planned to use the three victims to monitor the activities and movements of troops stationed around Ngoshe.

According to the sources, the victims encountered the troops during the patrol, prompting Aisha to run towards the soldiers and surrender.

The other two individuals, however, reportedly escaped in the direction of the village.

The rescued girl has been placed under appropriate care as security personnel work to facilitate her reunion with her family.

The development underscores the continuing security challenges in the Gwoza axis, where armed groups are accused of exploiting vulnerable civilians, including children, for intelligence-gathering purposes.

Security sources said troops operating in the area remain focused on protecting civilians and disrupting attempts by terrorists to obtain information through local residents.