Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have foiled multiple terrorist attacks, intercepted two truckloads of suspected insurgent logistics, and arrested at least 17 suspects, including a suspected terrorist operative and 16 alleged logistics suppliers and collaborators, in a series of operations across the North-East.
The military said the operations, conducted between March 28 and 30, 2026, dealt a significant blow to Boko Haram/ISWAP networks operating in the region.
In a statement issued by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, troops deployed in Damboa thwarted a planned Boko Haram/ISWAP attack after detecting terrorist movement through surveillance systems.
According to the statement, the troops engaged the insurgents in a firefight, forcing them to retreat in disarray, while follow-up exploitation confirmed their withdrawal from the area.
The military also said troops successfully repelled attempted attacks on farmers and local communities in Gwoza and Askira Uba Local Government Areas of Borno State, forcing the fleeing insurgents toward the Mandara Mountains and adjoining areas.
As part of ongoing offensive operations, troops discovered and safely detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted along the Goniri–Ngamdu axis, a route frequently used by commuters and security personnel.
Recovered materials at the scene, including rail tracks allegedly used to channel vehicles into a potential ambush zone, underscored what the military described as sustained terrorist efforts to disrupt movement along critical transport corridors.
In a major breakthrough against insurgent supply chains, troops arrested two suspected Boko Haram collaborators in Molai after they were found loitering suspiciously within a defensive location.
In a separate operation along the Maiduguri–Mafa road, troops intercepted vehicles transporting what the military described as large quantities of suspected terrorist logistics concealed in sacks.
The seized items—estimated to fill two truckloads—included cartons of medical drugs, motorcycle tyres and tubes, mosquito nets, rolls of mats, air filter cylinders, and detergents.
Preliminary investigations, the military said, showed the consignment was being moved without clearance toward Kusuri, a border community near Chad. The vehicles, drivers, and seized materials have been handed over for further investigation.
Troops, in conjunction with operatives of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), also arrested a suspected logistics supplier, Mohammed Adamu, 26, at Muna Garage.
Recovered from him were 25 litres of engine oil concealed in sacks, N624,900 in cash, a mobile phone, a power bank, a national identity card, and ATM cards.
The military said preliminary findings suggest the suspect had been supplying logistics, including motorcycle parts, to terrorists over an extended period.
In Gubio, troops working alongside intelligence operatives and CJTF personnel carried out targeted raids that led to the arrest of 13 suspected terrorist logistics suppliers and collaborators.
The statement added that two additional suspects were later apprehended in the same area and allegedly confessed to long-term involvement in supplying logistics to insurgents.
In another operation, troops arrested a suspected member of the JAS/ISWAP terrorist group, identified as Abubakar Ali, also known as “Saina,” at Kilo Papa checkpoint while he was reportedly travelling to Maiduguri.
According to the military, further interrogation indicated the suspect was believed to be on a reconnaissance mission. He has since been handed over to relevant authorities for detailed investigation.
Troops also arrested a suspected kidnapper in the Azir area of Damboa Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, clearance and cordon-and-search operations conducted in Wulgo Junction, Gamboru Motor Park, and surrounding locations led to the recovery of 450 wraps of suspected marijuana and other illicit substances, although suspected drug peddlers reportedly fled on sighting the troops.
The military high command commended the troops for what it described as their resilience, vigilance, and professionalism, urging them to sustain the momentum of ongoing operations aimed at denying terrorists freedom of action across the North-East.
According to the statement, the operations remain critical not only to regional security but also to the economic stability of the North-East.
