Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) delivered a crushing blow to insurgent forces on Friday, successfully repelling a series of coordinated terrorist assaults across Adamawa and Borno States.
The military response, characterised by intense ground combat and precision airstrikes, resulted in heavy enemy casualties and the recovery of a significant cache of high-calibre weaponry.
The violence began in the early hours of January 16, 2026, when terrorists launched a brazen attempt to overrun a patrol base at Sabon Gari in the Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
According to military officials, the alert troops of Sector 4 OPHK immediately engaged the attackers. The defence was quickly bolstered by reinforcements from Gulak and a Battalion Quick Reaction Force, forcing the insurgents to abandon their mission and flee the area.
“The terrorists were successfully repelled without any casualties to own troops and equipment,” stated Lieutenant SA Atokolo, the Acting Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force (North East). “Following the engagement, our teams cleared the general area to ensure no Improvised Explosive Devices or booby traps were left behind to threaten the civilian population.”
As the situation stabilised in Adamawa, a second, more complex “multi-directional” attack was launched against the Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Azir in Borno State. The attackers managed to target the base’s defensive perimeter with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), causing fires that damaged several troop-carrying vehicles and the facility’s CCTV control room.
However, the breach was short-lived. Gallant troops on the ground, supported by the Nigerian Army’s aerial platforms and the Air Component of OPHK, engaged the insurgents in a fierce firefight that lasted over an hour. The overwhelming firepower of the Nigerian forces eventually broke the assault, forcing the surviving terrorists to retreat into the bush.
“Despite the damage to our equipment, our troops maintained firm control of the situation,” Atokolo noted. “We recovered a 60mm mortar tube, mortar bombs, locally fabricated explosives, and hundreds of rounds of NATO-standard ammunition from the scene.”
The military’s success extended beyond the initial defence of the bases. Using Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, the Nigerian Air Force tracked the retreating insurgents as they moved along identified withdrawal routes. Precision strikes were subsequently launched, neutralising scores of additional terrorists and further depleting the group’s fighting strength.
Reflecting on the day’s operations, Lieutenant Atokolo reaffirmed the military’s dedication to the mission. “The troops of OPHK remain resolute and unwavering in their mandate to deny terrorists freedom of action and dismantle their networks. Operations will continue until all threats are eliminated from the North East region.”
