…Joint Forces Deliver Crushing Blows to ISWAP and Boko Haram
By Nkechi Eze
The fight against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and associated terrorist groups in Nigeria’s North East has entered a decisive phase, as Operation HADIN KAI demonstrates the strategic power of coordinated air and ground operations. Launched to neutralise insurgent threats across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States, the operation is now widely recognised by military analysts as a model for contemporary counter-insurgency warfare in Nigeria.
At the core of HADIN KAI’s success is the seamless integration of ground forces, air power, hybrid units, and local security groups, all operating under a unified operational plan. Ground troops have been conducting sustained clearance operations in volatile local government areas such as Gwoza, Damboa, Mobbar, Askira Uba, Konduga, Michika, and Damaturu. These offensives are strategically supported by air interdiction missions, reconnaissance, and rapid logistical reinforcement, ensuring that troops on the frontline are equipped and informed in real time.
Providing key operational insights, Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed while briefing journalists at the Defence Headquarters that within the month of January 2026 alone, HADIN KAI operations neutralised scores of terrorists, rescued forty kidnapped victims, and saw the surrender of forty-four insurgents and their family members. Importantly, the operation successfully eliminated five senior terrorist commanders and three of their lieutenants, delivering a crippling blow to the organisational hierarchy of ISWAP and Boko Haram.
The strategic direction and coordination of HADIN KAI are overseen by Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, whose leadership has been pivotal in aligning air and ground operations for maximum impact. Under his guidance, offensive operations are meticulously planned and executed, ensuring that intelligence is rapidly translated into actionable operations, while close collaboration with local communities strengthens operational effectiveness. Major General Abubakar’s emphasis on precision, discipline, and adaptability has been widely credited for maintaining the momentum that keeps insurgent groups off balance.
The operation has also achieved a major humanitarian milestone. Under HADIN KAI, Nigerian authorities successfully facilitated the return of Nigerians who had been displaced for over a decade to refugee camps in the Republic of Cameroon, resettling them safely in Borno State. This significant achievement highlights the operation’s dual focus on both security and the restoration of human dignity, demonstrating that military success can directly translate into renewed hope and stability for communities long affected by insurgency.
The role of air power in HADIN KAI cannot be overstated. Coordinated airstrikes, guided by intelligence gathered on the ground, have been critical in dismantling insurgent strongholds. In one notable mission, a newly identified hibernation area in the Northern Tumbus was targeted with precision rockets and bombs, resulting in the destruction of weapons, equipment, and multiple terrorist casualties. In the Timbuktu Triangle, air support enabled the neutralisation of a senior ISWAP commander identified as Qaid, along with his lieutenant Munzir, while severely wounding fleeing insurgents. Continuous aerial surveillance around Bulabulin and Korengelen South East of Azir ensures that escaping terrorists are tracked, limiting their freedom of movement and capacity to regroup.
The ground forces, meanwhile, have maintained relentless pressure, conducting coordinated offensives with hybrid units and local vigilante groups. In the Mandara Mountains on 22 January 2026, troops engaged in direct combat with insurgents, neutralising two terrorist commanders Basulhu and Ubaida, and recovering a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition. These operations highlight the precision and discipline of Nigerian soldiers operating under complex, multi-terrain conditions, where knowledge of the local geography is leveraged alongside intelligence from community informants.
HADIN KAI’s successes are further reinforced by timely intelligence fusion, which enables both air and ground components to act with speed and accuracy. Local communities, whose cooperation has steadily increased, provide critical information on terrorist movements, logistics networks, and recruitment activities. Military analysts note that this civil-military synergy is eroding the operational freedom of insurgents, cutting off supply lines, and undermining morale.
The operation also exemplifies adaptive warfare, with air assets providing rapid response capabilities. When ground troops encounter resistance or are called to rescue hostages, the Air Component delivers immediate fire support, aerial reconnaissance, and logistical reinforcement, significantly reducing risks to soldiers while maximizing operational impact. This dual approach persistent ground presence backed by responsive air support, has made it exceedingly difficult for insurgents to operate freely or establish new strongholds.
Beyond tactical victories, HADIN KAI is reshaping the strategic landscape of North East Nigeria. The neutralisation of key commanders, the surrender of insurgents with their families, the liberation of kidnapped victims, and the repatriation of long-displaced Nigerian refugees from Cameroon send a clear message: non-state actors cannot operate with impunity, and communities can return to safety and normalcy. Military authorities have emphasised that sustained air-ground synergy, coupled with community engagement and intelligence-led operations, is central to consolidating these gains and moving toward long-term stabilization of the region.
In summary, Operation HADIN KAI is not just about battlefield victories; it is about the integration of intelligence, technology, community engagement, leadership, and military professionalism. Under the decisive leadership of Theatre Commander Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, and with Major General Michael Onoja highlighting operational successes to the public, the operation underscores the Nigerian Armed Forces’ evolving capability to project force decisively and responsively. As the month of January 2026 demonstrates, HADIN KAI is steadily dismantling insurgent networks, safeguarding communities, repatriating displaced citizens, and setting the stage for lasting peace and security in one of Nigeria’s most troubled regions.
