Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have intensified their offensive against terrorist groups in Nigeria’s North-East, recording major battlefield successes in coordinated land and air operations across key insurgent enclaves in Borno State.
In a statement issued on April 29, 2026, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer at the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), said the operations were carried out under Operation Desert Sanity V, targeting terrorist strongholds in the Timbuktu axis and Bulabulin Forest areas.
According to him, “Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have continued to sustain offensive pressure against terrorist elements, under Operation DESERT SANITY V, recording significant operational gains in 2 separate but coordinated engagements.”
On the Bulabulin Forest axis, troops of Sector 2, working alongside elements of the Sector 2 Stabilisation Force Brigade and the Civilian Joint Task Force, cleared several terrorist enclaves, including Mar, Subdu, Yaro Lawanti, and Yaro Shuwari.
The statement noted that during the operation, troops engaged insurgents at Malam Shiri Village with support from air assets, executing what was described as “a well-coordinated and tactical flanking manoeuvre,” which led to the neutralisation of 11 terrorists, while others fled with injuries.
Lt Col. Uba added, “All life support structures were subsequently destroyed and exploitation of the area led to the recovery of 9 AK-47 rifles, 3 PKT anti aircraft automatic machine guns, 5 motorcycles, assorted ammunition, and several materials used for Improvised Explosive Devices.”
In a related operation along the Wajiroko–Sabongari corridor in the Timbuktu axis, troops again engaged terrorist fighters, maintaining their ground with what the statement described as “resilience and tactical discipline.”
“Subsequent exploitation revealed 7 neutralised terrorists, with additional blood trails and body parts indicating significantly higher enemy casualties during the assault,” the statement said.
Recovered items from the Timbuktu operation included AK-47 rifles, RPG tubes, large quantities of ammunition, bandoliers, and communication equipment.
The Nigerian Air Force component of Operation Hadin Kai was credited with playing a decisive role in the operations. According to the statement, “The Air Component Command of OPHK played a very crucial and decisive role in both engagements, providing persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) that enabled accurate target acquisition and real-time situational awareness for ground troops.”
It further noted that precision air strikes were carried out on confirmed terrorist positions and fleeing fighters, contributing to what it described as a “well synchronised air–land offensive that overwhelmed the adversary.”
Troops have since launched follow-up operations in the Forfor, Multe, and Wajiroko areas to track down fleeing insurgents and prevent regrouping.
Lt Col. Uba said the continued successes demonstrate the military’s increasing operational effectiveness, adding that the offensive has reinforced Operation Hadin Kai’s dominance across the theatre.