Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have repelled a late-night attack by ISWAP terrorists and launched a decisive counter-offensive that left at least 16 insurgents neutralised, logistics recovered, and 11 kidnapped victims rescued across parts of Borno State.
The coordinated operations, carried out between February 5 and 9, 2026, underscored the military’s sustained pressure on terrorist networks in the North East.
According to a statement by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the terrorists had attempted to overrun the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Auno shortly before midnight on February 5.
Troops of Sector 1, however, repelled the attack with what was described as disciplined firepower and tactical precision, forcing the insurgents to retreat.
Capitalising on the failed assault, OPHK troops, in synergy with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), launched a follow-on counter-offensive on February 9 along the Komala axis in Konduga Local Government Area. The troops pursued the fleeing terrorists up to the Gidan Kaji axis, neutralising 16 of them and leaving several others with severe injuries.
During the operation, soldiers recovered more than 20 bicycles, a cache of logistics items, weapons, and other supplies believed to be critical to terrorist operations. In a further blow to insurgent logistics networks, troops arrested suspected ISWAP suppliers allegedly conveying a large quantity of drugs intended for terrorists around the Bukarti axis on the same day.
In a related development, troops foiled a kidnap attempt along the Buratai–Kamuya road after detecting suspicious terrorist activities. Swift pursuit forced the insurgents to abandon their captives and flee into nearby bushes. Two victims — Mallam Idris Adamu and Mallam Muhammadu Safiyanu — were rescued and safely reunited with their families in Buratai.
Similarly, responding to a distress call along the Chibok–Damboa axis on February 9, troops successfully rescued nine additional kidnapped victims.
The series of successful engagements highlights OPHK’s continued resolve to degrade terrorist capabilities, disrupt logistics networks, and safeguard communities across the North East.
Military authorities reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining offensive operations and supporting humanitarian efforts to ensure the protection of civilians and the restoration of lasting peace in the region.
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