Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, working closely with local vigilante groups, have successfully intercepted a terrorist logistics movement and eliminated several insurgents during a carefully planned long-range ambush carried out in the early hours of December 21, 2025.
The operation formed part of ongoing kinetic actions aimed at weakening terrorist networks in the region.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col. Sani Uba. He explained that the operation followed actionable intelligence obtained through internal sources about the planned movement of logistics supplies by suspected JAS and ISWAP elements.
According to the statement, troops of OPHK, alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and supported by local hunters, were deployed to a strategic interception point located between Sojiri and Kayamla villages on the night of December 20, 2025. The deployment was carried out covertly to ensure the success of the mission.
“At approximately 2:24 a.m. on 21 December, suspected terrorists mounted on bicycles arrived at the location conveying logistics materials, confirming earlier intelligence reports. The troops, positioned in concealed and coordinated formations, engaged the terrorists decisively,” the statement noted.
Lt. Col. Uba disclosed that the confrontation led to the neutralisation of 17 suspected terrorists, while several others managed to escape with gunshot injuries. The troops also recovered a wide range of items believed to be intended for sustaining insurgent activities. These included bicycles used for transportation, assorted food supplies, drugs and medical items, detergents, clothing materials, torch lights, other logistics materials, as well as various weapons and ammunition of different calibres.
The successful operation, he said, highlights the renewed determination of troops on the ground and reflects the effectiveness of intelligence-led and joint security operations in dismantling terrorist supply chains and reducing their operational capacity.
What you should know
The ambush underscores the growing reliance on intelligence-driven military operations in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts, particularly in the North-East.
By targeting logistics movements rather than only combat units, security forces aim to weaken insurgent groups by cutting off supplies critical to their survival. The collaboration between the military, CJTF, and local hunters reflects a community-based approach that enhances situational awareness and operational success.
Such coordinated actions are central to disrupting terrorist networks, limiting their mobility, and reducing their ability to sustain prolonged attacks on civilian and military targets.
