OPERATION HADIN KAI RESCUES ABDUCTEES, REPELS ISWAP ATTACK, DISRUPTS TERRORIST LOGISTICS IN NORTH EAST

The Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, has recorded fresh operational gains across the North East following a series of intelligence led operations that resulted in the rescue of abductees, the disruption of terrorist logistics networks, the arrest of suspected collaborators, and the successful containment of an attack by fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province.

According to the military, troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion conducting search and rescue operations in Askira/Uba Local Government Area rescued two abductees from a terrorist hideout on July 7. During the operation, soldiers recovered ₦1.2 million suspected to be proceeds of criminal activities, alongside food items and other supplies believed to have supported terrorist operations. The rescued victims have since been evacuated to a secure location where they are receiving medical attention and psychosocial support.

In a separate operation, troops deployed at the Forward Operating Base, Logomani, in Ngala Local Government Area successfully repelled a coordinated attack by ISWAP fighters. The military disclosed that although the insurgents briefly breached part of the base's defensive perimeter during the exchange of fire, troops regrouped and launched a counter offensive that forced the attackers to withdraw after sustaining casualties. One soldier was killed during the encounter, while two gun trucks and other combat equipment were damaged. Reinforcements have since been deployed to the location, with exploitation operations continuing.

Operation HADIN KAI also announced the arrest of a suspected criminal during an intelligence driven operation in Gombi Local Government Area. Follow up operations led to the recovery of one AK 47 rifle, two magazines, and 28 rounds of 7.62 millimetre ammunition. The suspect remains in military custody as investigations continue.

In another operation, troops of the 149 Battalion arrested two suspected terrorist logistics suppliers in Mobbar Local Government Area. Recovered items included cash, a Volkswagen Golf vehicle, construction materials, household supplies, and other items believed to have been intended for terrorist groups.

Further offensive operations by troops of the 24 Task Force Brigade, supported by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, targeted known terrorist hideouts around Wulgo. Soldiers recovered a sack containing assorted illicit drugs abandoned by fleeing insurgents, an indication of continued pressure on terrorist elements operating within the area.

The military also confirmed the surrender of six suspected ISWAP members together with their families to troops of the 192 Battalion. Preliminary investigations indicated that the group escaped from terrorist enclaves at Guduf Bubayagwa and Chikide in the Mandara Mountains of Gwoza Local Government Area. Troops recovered ₦1,541,500 in cash, two mobile phones, and other items from the group.

In a related development, soldiers at the Molai checkpoint intercepted a suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP logistics supplier transporting large quantities of medical supplies without the required clearance. The suspect and the recovered items remain in custody.

In Sector Two, troops of the 233 Tank Battalion working alongside local hunters arrested another suspected terrorist logistics supplier from Ngirya village in Tarmuwa Local Government Area. The suspect was found with five motorcycle tyres believed to have been intended for terrorist use.

From a security perspective, the operations demonstrate an increasing emphasis on intelligence driven counterinsurgency that targets not only armed fighters but also the logistics and support networks that sustain terrorist organisations. Contemporary counterterrorism doctrine recognises that disrupting access to finance, transportation, medical supplies, construction materials, communications, and mobility can substantially weaken insurgent operational capability even before direct combat occurs.

The combination of search and rescue missions, interdiction of supply chains, targeted arrests, and sustained offensive operations reflects an approach designed to erode the operational resilience of terrorist groups while reducing their freedom of movement across the North East.

Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining search and rescue operations until all abducted persons are accounted for. The military also warned individuals involved in supplying food, fuel, transportation, construction materials, medical supplies, or any other form of logistical support to terrorist organisations that they would be identified, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with Nigerian law.