Troops kill 16 ISWAP terrorists, rescue victims in Borno

By Olakunle Oke 

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai have eliminated 16 ISWAP terrorists, recovered over 20 bicycles, a large cache of weapons, logistics, and other supplies, and rescued multiple kidnapping victims in Borno State.

A statement by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, said the troops successfully engaged and repelled an ISWAP attack before launching a follow-on counter-offensive, significantly degrading terrorist capabilities and disrupting their logistics networks.

The statement added that the terrorists were engaged along the Gidan Kaji axis, where 16 militants were killed, forcing scores to flee in disarray, many sustaining severe injuries.

In a separate operation, troops foiled a terrorist kidnap attempt along the Buratai-Kamuya road. Following detection of hostile activity, soldiers pursued the attackers, forcing them to abandon their victims. Two men, Mallam Idris Adamu and Mallam Muhammadu Safiyanu, were rescued and safely reunited with their families in Buratai.

Earlier, on February 9, 2026, troops responded to a distress call along the Chibok-Damboa axis and successfully rescued nine kidnapped victims.

The troops also arrested suspected ISWAP logistics suppliers around the Bukarti axis who were conveying a large quantity of drugs intended for terrorist operations, further crippling the militants’ supply chain.

The operations underscore Operation Hadin Kai’s ongoing commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and securing communities across the North East region.