The Joint Task Force (North East), under Operation HADIN KAI, has dismissed what it described as a renewed propaganda campaign by remnants of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, accusing the insurgents of recycling old photographs and media reports to mislead the public about the current security situation in the region.
In a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, the task force said its attention had been drawn to the circulation of outdated materials, including a 9 July 2020 report by YNaija, which resurfaced online with claims of a recent ambush on Nigerian soldiers. According to the military, internal fact-checking confirmed that the report and accompanying images were from past incidents and do not reflect the present operational realities.
The task force categorically denied claims that it had recently lost 20 soldiers, describing the reports as false and intended to create panic among residents of the North-East. It maintained that coordinated air and ground operations have significantly weakened insurgent elements across multiple theatres.
Providing an operational update, the command said troops carried out sustained offensives over the past week, targeting terrorist enclaves and logistics networks. At Miyanti, Gajigana and Gajiram, insurgents attempting to regroup were engaged by troops, resulting in the neutralisation of several fighters. Recovered items included anti-aircraft platforms, rocket bombs, machine guns and assorted rifles abandoned by fleeing combatants.
In a separate operation at the Chabbal checkpoint, troops intercepted logistics supplies and seized ₦37 million allegedly earmarked for terrorist activities, a development the military described as a major disruption to insurgent funding channels.
Similarly, at Komala in Konduga Local Government Area, troops pursued fleeing insurgents along the Gidan Kaji axis, neutralising 16 fighters. The operation also led to the recovery and destruction of 20 bicycles, weapons and other logistics items considered critical to the group’s mobility and sustainment.
The task force stated that the recent string of operations underscores the sustained degradation of terrorist capabilities in the region. It attributed the resurgence of propaganda materials to what it termed the insurgents’ inability to withstand intensified military pressure.
The military urged members of the public and media organisations to verify security-related information through credible official sources before dissemination, warning that unverified content could inadvertently amplify terrorist propaganda. It encouraged citizens to remain calm, continue lawful activities and provide timely intelligence to security agencies.
