The troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised 16 terrorists, rescued 11 kidnapped civilians and arrested suspected terrorist logistics suppliers in Borno State, the military has confirmed.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Northeast, Lt.-Col. Sanni Uba, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that the feats were achieved through coordinated ground actions alongside the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) following recent insurgent attacks in the region.
According to Lt.-Col. Uba, the series of engagements stemmed from a failed assault by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on Forward Operating Base Auno in the early hours of February 5, 2026. The troops reportedly repelled the attack with “disciplined firepower and tactical precision”.
Capitalising on that defensive success, on February 9, the troops launched a **counter-offensive along the Komala axis in Konduga Local Government Area. In fierce engagements up to the Gidan Kaji axis, soldiers “neutralised sixteen (16) terrorists, forcing scores to flee in disarray with severe injuries,” the statement said.
The military also recovered more than 20 bicycles, a large cache of logistics supplies, weapons, and other materiel believed to be critical to terrorist operations in the state.
In a separate development on the same day, troops arrested suspected ISWAP logistics suppliers near the Bukarti axis, seizing a large quantity of drugs reportedly intended for insurgents.
The soldiers also foiled a kidnapping attempt along the Buratai–Kamuya–Biu road. Upon detecting the terrorists’ movements, troops pursued them, leading the abductors to abandon their captives and flee into the bush. Among the freed were Mallam Idris Adamu and Mallam Muhammadu Safiyanu, who were safely reunited with their families in Buratai.
Responding to a distress call along the Chibok–Damboa axis, the troops additionally rescued nine more kidnapped victims.
Lt.-Col. Uba said the combined actions underscore OPHK’s continued commitment to humanitarian support and civilian protection across theatres of operations in the North-East.
