Troops of the Joint Task Force (North-East) under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully thwarted a terrorist attack, neutralised insurgents, and rescued abducted civilians during coordinated offensive and stabilisation operations conducted across the North-East theatre between February 20 and 21, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of the task force, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the troops recorded significant operational successes while sustaining aggressive clearance and patrol activities aimed at denying terrorist elements freedom of action in the region.
In one of the major encounters, troops of Sector 1, while on a fighting patrol, made contact with suspected JAS/ISWAP terrorists around Sabsawa village in Borno State. The troops engaged the insurgents with overwhelming firepower, forcing them to retreat in disarray. Subsequent exploitation of the area led to the neutralisation of five terrorists.
In a related development, troops deployed at Ngurosoye under Sector 1 rescued three abducted children — Abba Abba (12), Fatima Abba (8), and Aisha Abba (6) during a perimeter patrol in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State. Preliminary investigations revealed that the children had been abducted about two months earlier along the Gubio axis by suspected terrorists before being moved to Bula-Daloye. The rescued victims have since been handed over to the Nigeria Police for further necessary action.
Meanwhile, troops also recorded the surrender of an 18-year-old terrorist suspect, identified as Abubakar Abubakar, at Geidam in Yobe State. The suspect is currently in military custody undergoing profiling procedures.
Across other sectors of the operation, troops maintained an aggressive operational posture, conducting coordinated offensives alongside hybrid forces, vigilantes, and local hunters. The military said the operations were largely hitch-free, with exploitation and surveillance efforts ongoing across the theatre.
The military high command commended the troops for their resilience, high morale, and operational effectiveness, reaffirming its commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups until lasting peace and economic stability are restored to the North-East region.
