Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have neutralised six suspected terrorists, arrested 11 suspected collaborators and received the surrender of a member of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) in separate operations in Borno State.
The operations, conducted in Kaga and Gwoza Local Government Areas, involved troops working alongside Hybrid Force personnel as part of ongoing efforts to degrade terrorist groups and disrupt their support networks.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Acting Military Information Officer at Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Captain Mohammed Goni, said troops of the 29 Task Force Brigade Garrison, supported by Hybrid Force personnel, ambushed suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and JAS fighters along the Targejeri axis of Kaga LGA at about 12:37 a.m. on October 25.
The encounter resulted in the neutralisation of six terrorists, while troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, three magazines and 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
Other items recovered included two Android phones, three button phones and charms.
In a related operation, troops arrested six additional suspected terrorist collaborators during a follow-up raid in Benisheikh town, Kaga LGA, at about 6:20 a.m. on October 24.
The arrests brought the total number of suspects apprehended in connection with the investigation to 11, including five suspects arrested earlier.
Items recovered during the raid included an AK-47 rifle, three empty magazines, 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three terrorist uniforms, a turban, a head mask, two Android phones, three button phones and charms.
Goni said the suspects were undergoing investigation to establish their alleged involvement in terrorist activities and identify possible links with other members of the network.
In another development, troops of the 192 Battalion (Main), supported by Hybrid Force personnel deployed at the Hambagda Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Gwoza LGA, received the surrender of a JAS member at about 9:20 p.m. on October 24.
According to the statement, preliminary investigations indicated that the individual had escaped from a terrorist enclave in the Gwoza area of the Mandara Mountains and decided to abandon terrorism.
The individual surrendered with an AK-47 rifle and a magazine containing 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
He is currently in custody for further investigation and processing in line with established procedures.
The Theatre Command said the operations reflected sustained military pressure on terrorist groups, with the recovery of weapons and ammunition and the arrest of suspected collaborators aimed at weakening their operational capabilities and disrupting their support structures.
It reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-led operations across the North-East, with the objectives of restricting terrorist movements, supporting the safe return of displaced persons and restoring socio-economic activities in affected communities.
The military also urged members of the public to provide credible and timely information to security agencies to support ongoing counter-terrorism operations and efforts to restore peace and stability in the region.
