Troops of the Joint Task Force, North East, under Operation Hadin Kai record major operational success against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (BH/ISWAP) terrorists during coordinated offensives across the Sambisa Forest and Mandara Mountains axis.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the operation, conducted under Operation Desert Sanity V on January 22, 2026, foiled a planned terrorist ambush involving roadside improvised explosive devices and heavy gunfire. Troops of Sector 1 respond with superior firepower, neutralising several terrorists, including two senior commanders identified as Basulhu and Ubaida.
According to military sources, the encounter follows credible intelligence on terrorist movement along the Sambisa–Mandara corridor. The troops engage fleeing insurgents and dominate the area, forcing the terrorists to abandon weapons, logistics, and mobility assets during pursuit operations.
Mediaplusng.com further reports that items recovered during the operation include assault rifles, a pump-action rifle, motorcycles, grenades, communication radios, ammunition magazines, rocket-propelled grenade accessories, detonation materials, batteries, bandoliers, camel bags, and other improvised explosive device components. The recoveries significantly degrade the operational capacity of the terrorist groups in the axis.
In a statement signed by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the military confirms that troops maintain full control of the contested areas and continue exploitation to prevent regrouping by fleeing insurgents.
On a separate axis within the same operation, troops of Sector 1 make contact with terrorists around the Malkube general area. During the engagement, soldiers recover additional weapons, ammunition, and communication equipment, while neutralising more terrorists without recording casualties among security personnel.
Earlier the same day, another battle group under Sector 1 engages BH/ISWAP elements attempting to infiltrate Nigeria from Cameroon through the Galakura axis. The troops repel the incursion, forcing the terrorists to retreat in disarray. Subsequent exploitation of the area leads to the recovery of motorcycles and other supplies, further denying the terrorists freedom of movement and cross-border access.
Military authorities say the sustained pressure on multiple fronts reflects improved coordination, intelligence-driven planning, and increased combat efficiency among troops deployed across the North East theatre. The operations also underscore ongoing efforts to block escape routes and dismantle remaining terrorist enclaves.
The Defence Headquarters commends the troops for their bravery, discipline, and professionalism, urging them to sustain the current operational tempo. The military high command reiterates its commitment to neutralising all terrorist threats and restoring lasting peace and stability to communities affected by insurgency.
Across the North East, security conditions remain relatively stable as troops maintain aggressive patrols, clearance operations, and area domination. Military leadership assures Nigerians that operations will continue relentlessly until all terrorist networks are dismantled and normalcy fully returns to the region.
