In a significant blow to terrorist activities in the North East, Nigerian military forces have recorded major successes in Borno State, resulting in the surrender of eleven fighters and the elimination of eight others.
Sustained Offensive Yields Results
According to a statement released on Sunday, January 11, 2026, by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer for the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, troops have maintained intense pressure on terrorist groups. The statement confirmed that the ongoing military campaign has led to notable achievements in clearance operations, fighting patrols, and blocking movements of the insurgents.
Under Operation DESERT SANITY V, sustained pressure along the Azir–Wajiroko axis on January 10 forced eleven terrorist fighters to lay down their arms. The surrendering individuals turned in their AK-47 rifles and an assortment of ammunition to the troops.
Clearance Operations Destroy Key Enclaves
In earlier actions on January 9, troops conducted extensive clearance operations targeting the Bulaagalda cluster. During this mission, several active terrorist camps and enclaves were destroyed in locations including Dagumba, Bonne, Yaganari, Gosuri, and Umchile. Notably, camps known to be operated by notorious commanders Abu Nazir and Abu Ahmed were among those dismantled.
The operations successfully degraded terrorist logistics and dismantled life-support structures used by the insurgents. Recovered items from these raids included terrorist flags, weapons, and multiple magazines.
Neutralisation and Arrests
In a related engagement, troops acting on credible intelligence confronted JAS/ISWAP elements between Sojiri and Kayamla villages. This firefight resulted in the neutralisation of eight terrorists and the recovery of more AK-47 rifles.
Furthermore, in a separate intelligence-driven operation, troops arrested two suspected terrorist logistics collaborators in Gubio Local Government Area. The individuals were apprehended for their alleged role in supplying materials to the terrorist networks.
Additional offensive actions in the Yale and Bula Gaida areas forced terrorists to flee, leading to the destruction of more logistics facilities. Troops also recovered weapons, ammunition, and a general-purpose machine gun during these operations.
The military has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive pressure, with the ultimate goal of dismantling terrorist networks and restoring lasting peace and security across the North East region.
