Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
IN a sustained campaign of pressure across Nigeria’s North East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have rescued two abducted civilians, neutralised at least one terrorist, and dismantled key logistics supply chains linking criminal syndicates to insurgent enclaves, military authorities have confirmed.
The developments, announced in back‑to‑back press releases from the Joint Task Force headquarters, underscore what commanders describe as the “gradual collapse of terrorist support structures” around the Mandara Mountains and border communities.
A Mother and Child Returned
The most poignant breakthrough came from Amuda general area, where troops conducting offensive operations under Operation Desert Sanity V intercepted two escapees from Ngoshe community: Mrs Maryam Muhammad, aged 20, and her infant son Bello Muhammad, just one year and four months old.
The pair had been abducted during a terrorist attack on Ngoshe on 3 March 2026 – three months ago. According to preliminary debriefings, they were held in an enclave deep within the Mandara Mountains until intense artillery and fire missions forced their captors to abandon them.
“The victims managed to flee amidst the bombardment,” a theatre source said. After medical checks, they were reunited with their family through the Ngoshe community leadership.
Blood Bags and Uniforms: Inside a Terrorist ‘Clinic’
In parallel operations across Wulgo, Gumsari and Hausari, troops accompanied by civilian Joint Task Force elements discovered a makeshift terrorist medical facility complete with transfusion equipment and antibiotics. Also recovered were rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and a uniform belonging to a terrorist Amir (commander).
One insurgent was neutralised during the raid. No military casualties were reported.
Surrender by Desperation
The cumulative weight of successive offensives appears to be cracking the insurgency from within. On the Gwoza axis, a 50‑year‑old woman named Ghwa’a Biwa escaped from a terrorist camp in the Mandara Mountains and surrendered to troops of 192 Battalion.
Her stated reasons were stark: persistent military operations and a complete lack of basic necessities inside the camps.
Two more escapees – Binta Umaru, 19, and her two‑year‑old daughter Hafsat Ibrahim – later surrendered to troops along the Gwoza–Limankara road. All three have been screened, documented and placed in custody for further profiling.
Logistics Suppliers in the Net
Beyond the front lines, intelligence‑led operations have struck at the insurgency’s economic bloodstream.
At Benisheikh Market, troops and Forest Guards arrested a suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP logistics supplier, Girema Aliko, 40, who had been on a watchlist. He was intercepted while trying to transport 30 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol). Under questioning, he admitted supplying fuel and other provisions to terrorist elements.
In Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, another suspect – Mohammed Bulama, 25 – was detained at Ngawom, Muna Garage. Described as both a logistics supplier and an informant, he is said to be cooperating with investigators.
A Deserter’s Double Life
In a separate development that will concern military police, troops arrested Private Umar Bema of 50 Task Force Battalion, who had absconded from his unit with his personal weapon. Found in Maiduguri, the deserter is alleged to have engaged in criminal activities including robbery during his absence. His rifle and magazines have been recovered, and he remains in custody pending further military proceedings.
Kidnapping, Rustling and Terror Links
Further south in Biu Local Government Area, a suspected kidnapper and member of a criminal syndicate was arrested. The suspect confessed to involvement in kidnapping, cattle rustling and other offences across multiple locations. Crucially, investigators have established links between his network and terrorist elements, based on weapons recovered from neutralised insurgents.
In Adamawa State, troops working with local hunters detained two suspected ISWAP members who admitted taking part in attacks and abductions in parts of Borno and Adamawa.
Deserted Enclaves and Degraded Capabilities
An operation in the Damboa axis revealed several terrorist enclaves completely abandoned. Recovered from the empty camps were rocket‑propelled grenade bombs and PKT ammunition – further evidence that sustained pressure is forcing insurgents to retreat and shed weaponry.
Meanwhile, a fleeing Boko Haram/ISWAP fighter surrendered with two children in the Kukawa axis, citing military operations as the direct cause.
In a gesture toward due process, troops have handed over 13 detainees to appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
Command Assessment
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force (North East), said in a statement: “These developments underscore the effectiveness of ongoing offensive operations and the gradual collapse of terrorist support structures within the theatre, particularly around the Mandara Mountains and border communities.”
The Military High Command has commended the troops for their “impressive battle performance”, urging them to sustain the operational tempo in the interest of national security.
For now, the message from the theatre is clear: the noose is tightening, and the window for surrender, or escape, grows narrower by the day.
