Military Records Major Victory Against BH/ISWAP in North-East Operations
Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, have recorded a major operational success against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists along the Sambisa Forest and Mandara Mountains axis, neutralising 12 insurgents, including two senior commanders, during coordinated military offensives on Thursday, 22 January 2026.
The insurgents were said to have attempted a well-planned ambush on troops using roadside improvised explosive devices and heavy gunfire. However, troops of Sector 1 under Operation DESERT SANITY V responded with superior firepower, eliminating 10 terrorists on the spot, including two identified commanders, Basulhu and Ubaida.
A follow-up pursuit led to the recovery of several weapons and logistics items, including three AK-47 rifles, a 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.
In a separate operation around the Malkube area, Sector 1 troops engaged another group of terrorists, killing two insurgents and recovering additional AK-47 rifles, ammunition and communication equipment, without any casualty recorded on the side of the troops.
Earlier the same day, another battle group from Sector 1 intercepted BH/ISWAP elements attempting to infiltrate Nigeria from Cameroon through the Galakura axis, forcing them to retreat in disarray. Subsequent exploitation of the area led to the recovery of two motorcycles and other insurgent supplies.
The military high command commended the troops for their gallantry and urged them to sustain the operational tempo, assuring that operations will continue across the North-East region to deny terrorists freedom of action.
The information was contained in a statement signed by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba.
