Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, the outgoing Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, has disclosed that troops neutralised over 1,106 JAS/ISWAP terrorists and detained 758 suspected logistics collaborators during his 17-month tenure. He made the announcement during the formal handing and taking-over ceremony held at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, where he passed command to Major General Ibikunle Ajose.
Operation Hadin Kai's 17-Month Counter-Terrorism Campaign
Operation Hadin Kai, which covers Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states in northeastern Nigeria, recorded significant successes under Abubakar's leadership. Among the terrorists killed were several senior commanders, including Abu Bilal Al-Muniki, also known as Abu Mainok; Malam Jidda, Amir of Ngorgore/Malumti villages; Abu Modu; Modu Dogo; Munzir of Dogon Chukun; Abu Aisha, Qaid of Tumbun Mota; and Abul Kaka.
Troops also recovered more than 475 assorted weapons and 24,409 rounds of ammunition of various calibres. In addition, 295 improvised explosive devices were discovered and detonated from April 2025 onwards, while over N300 million linked to terrorist financiers was intercepted.
Civilians Rescued and Communities Rebuilt
Abubakar stated that 638 civilians were rescued from terrorist enclaves during the period, including all 46 students abducted in an attempted attack on the Federal Government Girls College, Monguno. He added that more than 969 JAS/ISWAP fighters and their families had voluntarily surrendered over the past year.
More than 7,000 displaced families returned to their ancestral communities in Borno State, and over 3,000 Nigerians were safely repatriated from Cameroon through a joint effort involving the Borno State Government, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
"The signs of normalcy are visible; the NYSC Orientation Scheme returned to Maiduguri after more than 13 years, WAEC and NECO examinations are now written in communities like Banki and Gwoza, while trade routes have reopened and local markets have come back to life," he said.
Operational Enhancements and New Commander's Pledge
On the operational side, Abubakar noted the activation of Sector 4 to cover the gap between Southern Borno and Northern Adamawa, the deployment of Nigerian Army Aviation helicopters, and the integration of a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System regiment to sharpen precision in air operations.
He credited the achievements to President Bola Tinubu, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, humanitarian organisations, international partners, the media, the Civilian Joint Task Force, and hybrid forces.
Incoming Theatre Commander Major General Ibikunle Ajose, a veteran of battalion, brigade, and division commands who also served in the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, pledged to build on the progress recorded under his predecessor.
The ceremony included an awards presentation recognising contributions to the counter-insurgency campaign. Recipients included the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Borno State Council, Comrade Abdulkareem Haruna, and the Chairman of the Correspondents' Chapel in Borno, Comrade Inusa Ndahi.
