Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have recorded major operational successes against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (BH/ISWAP) terrorists during coordinated offensives in the Sambisa Forest and Mandara Mountains axis of Borno State.
In a statement signed by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the military said the operations were carried out on January 22, 2026, under Operation DESERT SANITY V. According to the statement, terrorists attempted a well-coordinated ambush using roadside improvised explosive devices and heavy gunfire, but troops of Sector 1 responded decisively with superior firepower.
The statement disclosed that 10 terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, including two senior commanders identified as Basulhu and Ubaida. Follow-up pursuit and exploitation of the area led to the recovery of three AK-47 rifles, one pump-action rifle, five motorcycles, two hand grenades, two Baofeng radios, 12 AK-47 magazines, a rocket-propelled grenade charger, detonation cords, batteries, bandoliers, camel bags, iron bars, and other IED-making accessories.
On a separate axis, troops of Sector 1 made further contact with terrorists around the Malkube area, where additional AK-47 rifles, ammunition, and communication devices were recovered. Two terrorists were neutralised during the operation, with no casualties recorded on the side of the troops.
Earlier in the day, another battle group from Sector 1 engaged BH/ISWAP elements attempting to infiltrate Nigeria from Cameroon near the Galakura area. The terrorists were forced to retreat in disarray, while subsequent exploitation of the area led to the recovery of more insurgent equipment and supplies, including two motorcycles.
The military said the series of successful operations have further degraded terrorist capabilities and denied them freedom of movement within the operational areas. Troops’ morale and combat efficiency were described as high, with assurances that sustained operations would continue across the North East.
The Military High Command commended the troops for their gallantry and urged them to maintain the current operational tempo in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
