In a significant boost to counter-insurgency efforts in Nigeria’s North-East, troops of the Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised several terrorists during coordinated military operations in Adamawa and Borno States.
The Acting Media Information Officer of the Task Force, Lieutenant Solomon Atokolo, disclosed that the successes followed the disruption of planned terrorist attacks across parts of the region. He explained that troops went on to inflict heavy losses on insurgents who attempted to flee during subsequent operations.
“In the early hours of 16 January 2026, terrorists attempted to overrun a patrol base at Sabon Gari in Madagali LGA of Adamawa State under Sector 4 OPHK. Alert troops swiftly engaged the attackers, supported by reinforcements from Gulak and the Battalion Quick Reaction Force,” Atokolo said in a statement.
“The terrorists were successfully repelled without any casualty to own troops and equipment, forcing them to abandon the attack,” the statement reads in part.
He added that after the engagement, the surrounding area was thoroughly cleared and scanned for Improvised Explosive Devices and possible booby traps to guarantee the safety of civilians and personnel operating in the area.
On the same day, Atokolo said terrorists also launched a large-scale, multi-directional assault on the Forward Operating Base at Azir in Borno State. According to him, the attackers initially made attempts to breach sections of the defensive perimeter before encountering intense and sustained fire from Nigerian troops.
He noted that the soldiers were further supported by the Air Component and other aerial platforms of the Nigerian Army, forcing the terrorists to retreat under heavy pressure.
During the exchange, “terrorists’ Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) fire affected Troop-Carrying Vehicles and the CCTV control room which were partially gutted by fire but despite this, the troops maintained firm control of the situation”.
Following the successful defence of the base, troops recovered several weapons and large quantities of ammunition abandoned by the terrorists. Items recovered included a 60mm mortar tube, mortar bombs, locally fabricated explosive devices, heavy machine gun rounds and hundreds of rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
The military said the operations underscore the continued resolve of Nigerian forces to deny terrorists freedom of action and dismantle their operational capabilities across the North-East.
What you should know
Operation Hadin Kai is the Nigerian military’s main counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East, targeting terrorist groups operating in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.
Despite repeated attacks on military formations, troops have continued to repel assaults and degrade insurgent capabilities through ground and air operations.
The latest engagements highlight ongoing efforts to protect civilians, secure military installations and recover illegal weapons, as security forces sustain pressure on terrorist networks across the region.
