Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
TROOPS of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have inflicted heavy casualties on Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists following a failed attack on a military forward operating base, the theatre command has disclosed.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer at Headquarters OPHK, revealed that troops not only repelled the assault but pursued fleeing insurgents in a devastating counter-offensive that left at least 16 terrorists neutralised and several others fleeing with gunshot wounds.
The attempted attack on Forward Operating Base Auno occurred on 5 February 2026, minutes to midnight. Troops of Sector 1, according to the statement, thwarted the assault with “disciplined firepower and tactical precision.”
Capitalising on the momentum, troops—operating in synergy with the Civilian Joint Task Force—launched a bold counter-offensive along the Komala axis in Konduga Local Government Area on 9 February 2026. The pursuit extended to the Gidan Kaji axis, where fierce engagement resulted in the elimination of 16 insurgents.
Beyond the body count, the operation delivered a significant blow to terrorist logistics. Troops recovered over twenty bicycles, a substantial cache of weapons, and a large quantity of supplies critical to terrorist operations.
In a further disruption of enemy supply lines, suspected ISWAP logistics suppliers were arrested on the same day around the Bukarti axis while conveying a large consignment of drugs intended for terrorist fighters.
Nine Kidnap Victims Rescued in Separate Operations
The military also recorded significant successes in civilian rescue missions.
Along the Buratai-Kamuya road, troops foiled a kidnap attempt after detecting terrorist movements. A swift pursuit forced the abductors to abandon their victims and flee into the bush. Two rescued victims—Mallam Idris Adamu and Mallam Muhammadu Safiyanu—were safely reunited with their families in Buratai.
In a separate incident along the Chibok-Damboa axis, also on 9 February 2026, troops responding to a distress call rescued nine kidnapped victims.
Lieutenant Colonel Uba described the successful operations as testament to OPHK’s “unwavering commitment to dismantling terrorist networks across the North East region,” adding that the theatre command remains resolute in its support for humanitarian efforts and the protection of civilians.
“This decisive action has significantly degraded terrorist capabilities, disrupted their logistics, and reaffirmed OPHK’s operational superiority,” the statement read.
The military did not disclose whether any casualties were recorded on its side.
As at the time of this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the failed attack, but ISWAP remains active in parts of Borno State despite sustained counter-insurgency operations.
