The Theatre Commander, Headquarters Theatre Command, Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, has disclosed that troops of the operation recently neutralised over 200 terrorist elements in sustained offensive operations across the North East.
He said several other terrorists also suffered severe injuries, significantly degrading their combat capability and preventing their return to the battlefield.
Major General Abubakar made this known while presenting a comprehensive operational brief during the operational assessment visit of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, alongside the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, to Maiduguri on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
The visit came barely 24 hours after recent suicide bomb incidents within the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.
According to a press statement issued on Thursday by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, the Theatre Commander highlighted ongoing engagements, operational challenges, and recent successes recorded within the Joint Operations Area.
He noted that despite isolated setbacks, troops have continued to dominate the battlespace through sustained offensive actions carried out with commitment and professionalism.
The Theatre Commander Major General Abubakar reaffirmed that OPHK troops remain resolute, undeterred, and fully committed to intensifying offensive operations aimed at denying terrorists freedom of action and restoring lasting peace and economic stability across the North East region.
Addressing officers and troops at the Maimalari Cantonment, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended the troops for their resilience, sacrifice, and sustained operational pressure against terrorist elements across the theatre.
He charged personnel to remain fully committed and resolute in the discharge of their duties.
In a bid to consolidate recent gains and prevent a recurrence of recent incidents, the CDS directed commanders to intensify offensive operations against terrorist elements, strengthen intelligence architecture, and adopt innovative and proactive strategies to dominate the battlespace.
General Oluyede stressed the need to maintain operational momentum and assured troops of sustained strategic support from Defence Headquarters towards achieving the decisive defeat of terrorism.
Also speaking, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, praised the troops for their unwavering dedication, doggedness, and consistent pressure on the adversary.
He urged field commanders to sustain and intensify ongoing offensive operations, while institutionalising a firm “never again” posture to deny terrorist elements any operational space or opportunity to strike, particularly during critical periods such as Ramadan and beyond.
The COAS further assured the Theatre Command of additional support and critical enablers to enhance operational effectiveness, strengthen force protection, and reinforce the ongoing intensified offensive across the theatre.
