“The insurgents attempted a well-planned ambush with Roadside Improvised Explosive Devices (RSIED) and heavy gunfire, but impressively, troops under Sector 1 responded with superior firepower, neutralising 10 terrorists, including 2 senior commanders identified as Basulhu and Ubaida,” he said.
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have delivered a major setback to Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents in Borno State, foiling a carefully planned ambush and eliminating two high-profile commanders along with several fighters in intense engagements across the Sambisa Forest and Mandara Mountains axis.
In a statement issued Thursday evening, Lt Col Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force Northeast Operation Hadin Kai, detailed the successes under Operation DESERT SANITY V.
“Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) operating under Operation DESERT SANITY V delivered a decisive blow to BH/ISWAP terrorists along the Sambisa and Mandara Mountains axis on 22 January 2026.
“The insurgents attempted a well-planned ambush with Roadside Improvised Explosive Devices (RSIED) and heavy gunfire, but impressively, troops under Sector 1 responded with superior firepower, neutralising 10 terrorists, including 2 senior commanders identified as Basulhu and Ubaida,” he said.
Follow-up operations in the aftermath led to the recovery of significant insurgent weaponry and logistics, including 3 AK-47 rifles, one pump-action rifle, 5 motorcycles, 2 hand grenades, 2 Baofeng radios, 12 x AK-47 magazines, a Rocket Propelled Grenade charger, detonation cords, batteries, bandoliers, camel bags, as well as iron bars and IED accessories.
Troops of Sector 1 OPHK further made contact around the Malkube area, recovering additional AK-47 rifles, ammunition, and communication devices, while 2 terrorists were neutralised without casualties to personnel.
Earlier in the day, another Battle Group from Sector 1 engaged BHT/ISWAP elements attempting to infiltrate from Cameroon near Galakura into Nigeria, forcing them to withdraw in disarray.
According to Uba, the exploitation of the area yielded insurgent equipment and supplies, including 2 motorcycles, further denying the terrorists freedom of action.
“Troops’ morale and combat efficiency remain high, and operations would be sustained across the entire North East region,” he assured.
He noted that the military high command commended the troops for their gallantry and urged them to sustain the operational tempo.
The latest victories come days after troops faced a setback in clearance operations within the Timbuktu Triangle on Tuesday, 20 January 2026. While successfully dominating key terrorist locations including Tergejeri, Chiralia, and the Ajigin/Abirma general areas, troops encountered resistance involving two Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs).
“On 20 January 2026, while consolidating at a harbour area approximately 6 km North of Chilaria, troops encountered 2 Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIED). Through vigilance and swift action, one VBIED was successfully neutralised. The second VBIED, however, breached the defensive position, affecting some logistics platforms.
“In the course of this attack, some gallant soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force paid the supreme price, while others sustained injuries,” he added.
Despite the losses, military authorities maintained that troops successfully cleared and dominated key areas, neutralising several fleeing terrorists through high-volume fire, with morale remaining high as operations continue.
