Troops of Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully foiled coordinated terrorist attacks across parts of Adamawa and Borno States, while inflicting heavy losses on fleeing terrorists during follow-up operations.
OPHK’s Acting Media Information Officer, Lt. Solomon A. Atokolo, stared on Friday that troops demonstrated resilience, professionalism and superior combat capability in the early hours of 16 January 2026, when terrorists attempted to overrun a patrol base at Sabon Gari in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, under Sector 4 OPHK.
According to him, the troops who were on high alert, swiftly engaged the attackers, supported by reinforcements from Gulak and the Battalion Quick Reaction Force.
“The terrorists were successfully repelled without any casualty to own troops or equipment, forcing them to abandon the attack. The area was subsequently cleared and scanned for improvised explosive devices and booby traps to ensure the safety of troops and civilians”, Atokolo stated.
He disclosed further that on the same day, terrorists launched a large-scale, multi-directional attack on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Azir in Borno State. The attackers attempted to breach part of the defensive perimeter but were met with overwhelming and sustained firepower from gallant troops, supported by the Air Component and other Nigerian Army aerial platforms. After a prolonged firefight lasting over an hour, the terrorists were decisively overpowered and forced to withdraw.
He said that during the engagement, terrorists’ rocket-propelled grenade fire affected troop-carrying vehicles and the CCTV control room, which were partially gutted by fire. Despite this, troops maintained firm control of the situation.
Several terrorist weapons and ammunition were recovered, including a 60mm mortar tube, mortar bombs, locally fabricated explosives, heavy machine-gun rounds and hundreds of rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
The engagement did not end at the FOB. Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance platforms tracked the fleeing terrorists, enabling follow-up operations along identified withdrawal routes by the Air Component of OPHK. Precision strikes by Nigerian Air Force platforms led to the neutralisation of additional scores of terrorists, dealing a severe blow to the group’s fighting strength and morale. Exploitation of the area confirmed heavy terrorist casualties.
Atokolo stated that the sacrifices of personnel underscore the commitment of troops to securing lives and property as troops of OPHK remain resolute in their mandate to deny terrorists freedom of action, dismantle their networks and protect the integrity of the North-East region. He assured that operations will continue until all threats are eliminated.
