Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have foiled coordinated terrorist assaults in Adamawa and Borno states, delivering a decisive blow that underscored their combat readiness and operational superiority.
In a statement posted on the Nigerian Army’s official X handle on Friday, the Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant SA Atokolo, said the first attack occurred in the early hours of January 16, 2026, when terrorists attempted to overrun a patrol base at Sabon Gari in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
According to Atokolo, alert troops swiftly engaged the attackers, with reinforcements from Gulak and the Battalion Quick Reaction Force tipping the balance. The terrorists were repelled without any casualty or loss of military equipment, while the area was subsequently cleared and scanned for improvised explosive devices to guarantee the safety of troops and civilians.
Later the same day, terrorists launched a large-scale, multi-directional assault on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Azir in Borno State. Troops, supported by the Air Component and Nigerian Army aerial platforms, responded with overwhelming firepower, forcing the attackers to retreat after a fierce firefight that lasted over an hour, The News Chronicle gathered.
Although rocket-propelled grenade fire damaged troop-carrying vehicles and the CCTV control room, Atokolo said troops maintained firm control of the base. Several arms and ammunition were recovered, including a 60mm mortar tube, mortar bombs, heavy machine gun rounds and hundreds of 7.62mm NATO rounds.
He added that sustained intelligence gathering and aerial surveillance enabled follow-up operations that tracked and neutralised fleeing terrorists, inflicting heavy casualties and significantly degrading their fighting capacity.
Atokolo said the gallantry and sacrifices of OPHK personnel reflect their unwavering commitment to protecting lives, dismantling terrorist networks and securing the North East, noting that operations will continue until all threats are eliminated.
