By Nkechi Eze
Troops of the Joint Task Force North East (JTF-NE) Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have successfully thwarted multiple terrorist attacks and neutralised key threats across Borno and Adamawa States between October 25 and 31, 2025, in a series of coordinated ground and air operations that reinforced security and stability across the region.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Media Information Officer, JTF North East OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, who noted that the operations demonstrated the troops’ resilience, swift response, and professionalism in safeguarding civilian populations and protecting critical locations from terrorist incursions.
According to him, the week-long operations featured engagements that foiled a planned suicide bombing in Kukawa, an ambush along the Gwoza–Limankara axis, and the interception of terrorist logistics routes. Troops also carried out a series of successful counter-insurgency, anti-smuggling, and cordon-and-search operations that led to the arrest of suspects and recovery of weapons, ammunition, and other illicit materials.
On October 25, 2025, troops foiled an attempted assault on Kukawa Town by terrorists driving a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED). The troops engaged the vehicle with rocket-propelled grenades (RPG), but the projectiles ricocheted off the VBIED’s armoured plating. A T-55 tank was then deployed to neutralise the threat, detonating the explosive-laden vehicle and preventing what could have been a devastating attack. The terrorists fled under sustained fire, while a 10-year-old civilian girl who sustained minor injuries was promptly treated at a medical facility.
In another coordinated effort, troops working with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) discovered and safely neutralised three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along the Dikwa–Ajiri axis and surrounding routes. The operation averted potential attacks on major supply lines critical to ongoing counterterrorism logistics.
Similarly, on October 29, troops of 192 Battalion (Main), in collaboration with CJTF operatives, conducted a deliberate ambush that neutralised two terrorists and forced several others to retreat into the Mandara Mountains. Items recovered from the site indicated that insurgents continue to rely on bicycles and local food supplies for mobility and sustenance within the area.
The following day, October 30, troops of 202 Battalion, in conjunction with 10 members of the Volunteer Force, mounted a successful night ambush along the Bama–Konduga Main Supply Route. The operation targeted insurgents attempting to move from the Gezuwa axis towards Sambisa Forest. The troops’ decisive firepower disrupted the movement, scattering the terrorists and denying them access to their intended route.
In a parallel operation codenamed Operation Strangulation, troops of 232 Battalion (Tactical) intercepted smugglers conveying a drum of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and two motorcycles used for illegal transport at Fillin Ball and Sebore in Mubi South Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The suspects abandoned the items and fled upon sighting the troops. The recovered products are currently in custody for further investigation.
Acting on credible intelligence, troops of 144 Battalion and Sector 4 Special Forces, working with Hybrid Forces and local hunters, conducted a cordon-and-search operation on October 30 at Sabon Gari village in Madagali Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of five suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP collaborators. The suspects, identified as Musa Mohammed (38), Gambo Musa (17), Mallam Mohammed (17), Abu Danjuma (27), and Umar Banna (26), were found with incriminating items, including a desert camouflage uniform and one round of 7.62mm x 54mm ammunition. Additionally, troops discovered 50 wraps of Indian hemp in an abandoned hut within the area. Preliminary investigations are ongoing.
Throughout the operations, the Air Component Command of Operation Hadin Kai provided critical support through precision air strikes and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. These aerial operations enhanced battlefield awareness, neutralised several terrorist positions, and aided the recovery of weapons and logistics materials.
A follow-up exploitation conducted in the early hours of October 31 within a three-kilometre radius towards Sambisa Forest led to the recovery of one terrorist’s corpse, one AK-47 rifle with a magazine containing eight rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 90 rounds of 7.62mm × 54mm linked ammunition, and four bicycles. No casualties were recorded on the part of own troops.
Lieutenant Colonel Uba stated that the Military High Command has commended the troops for their gallantry, professionalism, and renewed commitment to national security. He reaffirmed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain steadfast in their resolve to eradicate terrorism and restore lasting peace in the North East, with ongoing operations focused on dismantling terrorist cells, disrupting their supply chains, and protecting vulnerable communities.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces will sustain the momentum in the fight against terrorism. We remain committed to defending the territorial integrity of the nation and ensuring that peace and normalcy return permanently to the North East,” the statement read.
