In a significant blow to terrorist operations in Nigeria's North East, eleven fighters have laid down their arms and surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State. This development comes as the military intensifies its offensive, resulting in the death of eight other insurgents and the arrest of key logistics collaborators.
Sustained Military Pressure Yields Results
The Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force Northeast Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, confirmed the successes in a detailed statement released on Sunday, January 14, 2026. He attributed the surrender to the sustained and intense pressure applied by troops under the ongoing Operation Desert Sanity V.
On January 10, 2026, along the Azir–Wajiroko axis, the relentless military campaign forced the eleven terrorist fighters to submit. They turned themselves in along with their AK-47 rifles and assorted ammunition, marking a tactical and psychological victory for the Nigerian forces.
Clearance Operations Destroy Terrorist Infrastructure
In preceding operations, troops carried out extensive clearance missions aimed at dismantling the terrorists' support network. On January 9, 2026, soldiers targeted the Bulaagalda cluster, destroying several active terrorist enclaves and camps.
Notable camps destroyed included those linked to commanders Abu Nazir and Abu Ahmed in locations such as Dagumba, Bonne, Yaganari, Gosuri, and Umchile. The operations successfully degraded terrorist logistics, with troops recovering items including insurgent flags, weapons, and magazines.
Further offensive actions in the Yale and Bula Gaida areas caused terrorists to flee, leading to the destruction of more logistics facilities. Soldiers also recovered a cache of weapons, ammunition, and a general purpose machine-gun.
Neutralizations, Arrests, and Border Interception
The military's coordinated efforts extended beyond Borno's interior. Acting on credible intelligence, troops engaged JAS/ISWAP elements between Sojiri and Kayamla villages. This confrontation resulted in the neutralization of eight terrorists and the recovery of more AK-47 rifles.
In a critical move to cut off supply lines, troops arrested two suspected terrorist logistics collaborators in Gubio Local Government Area. These individuals were allegedly responsible for supplying vital materials to the insurgents.
In a separate but related operation, troops deployed at the Cameroon–Nigeria border gate made a crucial interception. They stopped a Peugeot vehicle conveying six bags of urea fertiliser, a critical precursor material for making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Exploitation of intelligence from this seizure led to the arrest of the fertiliser dealer and the recovery of an additional six bags, bringing the total seized to twelve bags. All suspects and items are in military custody for further investigation.
Army Vows Continued Offensive
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba assured the public that the troops remain resolute. The military is committed to sustaining offensive pressure, dismantling terrorist networks, and restoring lasting peace and security across the North East region.
This latest report aligns with broader nationwide successes recently announced by the Nigerian Army, which included neutralizing dozens of terrorists and rescuing kidnapped victims across multiple theatres of operation in a 72-hour period.
