Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), operating as part of Operation DESERT SANITY V, have dealt a decisive blow to Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists along the Sambisa and Mandara Mountains on January 22, 2026.
Confirming the report, Lieut. Col. Sani Uba, Media Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East) said the insurgents attempted a well-planned ambush using roadside improvised explosive devices (RSIEDs) and heavy gunfire.
He said troops of Sector 1 responded with superior firepower, neutralizing 10 terrorists, including two senior commanders identified as Basulhu and Ubaida. Subsequent pursuit operations recovered a cache of weapons and equipment, including three AK-47 rifles, a pump-action rifle, five motorcycles, two hand grenades, two Baofeng radios, 12 AK-47 magazines, a rocket-propelled grenade charger, detonation cords, batteries, bandoliers, camel bags, iron bars, and IED accessories.
On a separate offensive axis in the Malkube area, Sector 1 troops neutralized two terrorists and recovered additional AK-47 rifles, ammunition, and communication devices, sustaining operations without any casualties. Earlier in the day, another battle group engaged BH/ISWAP elements attempting to infiltrate from Cameroon near Galakura into Nigeria, forcing the insurgents to retreat in disarray.
Further exploitation of the area yielded insurgent equipment, including two motorcycles, denying terrorists freedom of movement.
The military noted that troop morale and combat efficiency remain high, with operations set to continue across the entire North-East region. The High Command commended the personnel for their gallantry and urged them to sustain the operational tempo.
