Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have recorded a major operational breakthrough with the destruction of three notorious ISWAP terrorist detention facilities deep within the Timbuktu Triangle forest in Gujba Local Government Area.
Confirming the development, the Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, said the operation was carried out under Operation DESERT SANITY V after weeks of sustained offensive actions and intelligence-led manoeuvres that forced terrorist elements to abandon key strongholds.
He noted that the development mark a significant advance into areas previously considered inaccessible to security forces and highlights the growing effectiveness of ongoing counter-insurgency efforts.
According to the military, the facilities, uncovered and destroyed between January 21, 2026, and date, were strategically positioned across the Timbuktu Triangle forest spanning parts of Borno and Yobe states. Preliminary assessments revealed that the camps had the capacity to hold up to 300 detainees, underscoring their importance to ISWAP’s operational and coercive activities.
Sustained military pressure reportedly led to the escape of more than 70 captives who had been held by the terrorists. Many of the escapees later resurfaced in communities such as Goniri, Buratai and Mandaragirau.
One of the freed captives, Malam Jidda Ba Jidda, a native of Kufi village near Buratai in Biu Local Government Area, said he escaped during a gun battle between terrorists and advancing troops. He disclosed that he was abducted on December 22, 2025.
During the series of encounters in the area, ISWAP fighters suffered heavy losses, with at least 32 terrorists neutralised, including two Qaids and three Munzirs, while several others sustained serious injuries.
After thorough clearance operations, the three detention facilities were deliberately demolished to prevent their reuse. Military authorities said the operation was carried out successfully without casualties, reflecting the professionalism, discipline and combat effectiveness of the troops.
The destruction of the camps is seen as a major blow to ISWAP’s internal enforcement system and its ability to detain civilians for ransom. Security analysts believe the development will weaken the group’s influence over local communities and enhance intelligence-gathering efforts through testimonies from rescued victims.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba further assured Nigerians that despite the unpredictable security situation in the region, troops remain motivated and operationally efficient, addedthat the Armed Forces would continue efforts to restore lasting peace and security in the North East.
