By Nkechi Eze
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have recorded major operational gains across the North East theatre, neutralising terrorists, rescuing abducted victims, recovering arms and explosive devices, as well as arresting suspected collaborators and criminal elements in a series of coordinated offensives.
According to an official signed statement by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the operations were conducted under Operation DESERT SANITY and related missions across several locations within the theatre.
Lieutenant Colonel Una disclosed that troops of OPHK, supported by the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), carried out coordinated offensives in the Valle, Ashigashiya and Gakara general areas where they engaged suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists with superior firepower.
He stated that two insurgents were neutralised during the encounter, while several others fled towards the Ngoshe axis. The troops subsequently cleared the area without recording any casualty on the side of the military.
The statement further revealed that troops operating along the Bravo Kilo 10 axis intercepted suspected terrorists and engaged them effectively, neutralising another insurgent. Items recovered during the operation included a radio set and a mobile phone.
In another major breakthrough, troops conducting offensive operations along the Ngoshe–Amuda corridor rescued an eight-year-old boy identified as Abubakar Mublagha, who was abducted during the March 3, 2026 attack on Ngoshe community.
Lieutenant Colonel Una noted that the victim was medically evaluated and later reunited with his family.
Similarly, troops operating around Uvaha, a deserted village along the Gwoza–Limankara axis, rescued a 20-year-old abducted Fulani male identified as Dahiru Ahamdu.
The victim reportedly disclosed that he escaped from his captors following intense artillery bombardments by troops which struck terrorist camps, neutralised two insurgents and created panic within the enclave.
He further explained that he was abducted on May 8, 2026 while grazing cattle at Bororo village in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State before being taken to a terrorist hideout within the Mandara Mountains.
The military said the victim had since undergone medical examination and was successfully reunited with his family through community leadership.
Meanwhile, troops deployed at Buni Gari, acting on credible intelligence, recovered a cache of arms, ammunition and explosive ordnance abandoned by fleeing terrorists in the Magza general area.
Recovered items included four 40mm RPG bombs, one 81mm mortar bomb and four 60mm mortar bombs, all of which were safely secured by Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams.
The statement also disclosed that troops arrested a suspected collaborator identified as Kuti Muhammad, said to be a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force, over alleged links with terrorist elements.
In a separate security operation, troops swiftly responded to a reported armed robbery incident in Garin Gwigwi village in Biu Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of three suspects identified as Aliyu Mamadu, Umar Mohammed and Adamu Aliyu.
Recovered items included mobile phones, suspected illicit substances, charms, jewellery, cash, a dagger, a Quran booklet and a locally made firearm.
The military further confirmed that a Dane gun earlier reported stolen was recovered and returned to its rightful owner after due verification, while investigations were ongoing to apprehend other accomplices.
Additionally, troops in conjunction with local hunters arrested four suspected cattle rustlers and terrorist collaborators at Kwaya Kusar Market with six rustled cattle.
Lieutenant Colonel Una stated that the suspects were undergoing preliminary investigation.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed that troops across all operational areas of Operation HADIN KAI remained vigilant and aggressive in ongoing efforts to deny terrorists and criminal elements freedom of action within the North East theatre.
The military high command also commended the troops for their professionalism, resilience and sustained operational successes, urging them to maintain the current momentum in the collective interest of national security.
