The Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), has announced a series of successful intelligence-led precision strikes against terrorist concentrations across Borno State between the night of August 21 and the early hours of August 22, 2026.
According to military officials, the coordinated air operations were based on credible intelligence and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that tracked movements of suspected terrorists. “The strikes successfully degraded the identified targets and disrupted attempts by terrorist elements to assemble, regroup and operate freely within the theatre,” said Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer for OPHK.
In one of the operations, an armed reconnaissance platform detected suspected terrorists around the Aduwa axis in Monguno LGA. After identifying a larger concentration within a settlement, a precision strike was conducted. “Subsequent Battle Damage Assessment indicated significant effects on the terrorist concentration with about 16 terrorists neutralised in two precision strikes,” Goni explained. Surveillance later revealed another group attempting to regroup, which was also engaged, resulting in the neutralisation of about 10 more terrorists.
A separate operation around Buratai in Biu LGA saw another OPHK air platform track and strike a gathering of suspected terrorists, eliminating approximately 10 individuals.
Military authorities highlighted that these operations demonstrate the growing effectiveness of OPHK’s integrated ISR capabilities. “Attempts by terrorist elements to conceal their movements, disperse into smaller groups or exploit remote locations cannot be relied upon to guarantee freedom from detection,” Goni stated.
Beyond the immediate tactical gains, the strikes are expected to weaken terrorist command structures, disrupt logistics, and increase pressure on fighting formations. OPHK emphasized that its kinetic operations are complemented by non-kinetic efforts such as community engagement, counter-messaging, humanitarian coordination, and encouraging terrorists to surrender.
“The increasing number of surrenders recorded in recent weeks further reflects the growing pressure on terrorist networks and reinforces the message that there remains a credible pathway away from terrorism,” Goni added.
The Joint Task Force urged the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely information to security forces. “Community cooperation remains essential to early threat detection, protection of lives and property, and consolidation of the gains being recorded in the counter-terrorism campaign,” Goni said.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining coordinated operations against terrorist networks while supporting conditions for peace, security, and socio-economic recovery across the North-East.
