Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, have killed scores of terrorists while foiling coordinated attacks in Adamawa and Borno States, marking a significant boost to counter-insurgency efforts in the North-East.
The Acting Media Information Officer of the Task Force, Lieutenant Solomon Atokolo, said the terrorists were neutralised during sustained engagements and follow-up operations after failed attempts to overrun military positions.
In a statement, Atokolo said that in the early hours of January 16, 2026, terrorists attempted to attack a patrol base at Sabon Gari in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State under Sector 4 of Operation Hadin Kai.
“Alert troops swiftly engaged the attackers, supported by reinforcements from Gulak and the Battalion Quick Reaction Force,” he said.
According to him, the terrorists were repelled without any casualty to troops or loss of 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 civilians and personnel.
On the same day, terrorists also launched a large-scale, multi-directional assault on the Forward Operating Base at Azir in Borno State.
Atokolo said the attackers attempted to breach the defensive perimeter but were met with overwhelming and sustained firepower from troops, supported by the Air Component and other Nigerian Army aerial platforms, forcing them to retreat.
During the encounter, rocket-propelled grenade fire damaged troop-carrying vehicles and the CCTV control room, which was partially gutted by fire. However, the troops maintained control of the base throughout the engagement.
Several weapons and ammunition were recovered from the fleeing terrorists, including a 60mm mortar tube, mortar bombs, locally fabricated explosives, heavy machine-gun rounds and hundreds of rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
