No fewer than 11 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters have surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Borno State, as soldiers also killed eight terrorists and arrested two suspected logistics suppliers.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, North East Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba.
According to the statement, the surrendered fighters laid down their arms along the Azir–Wajiroko axis on January 10, 2026, following sustained military pressure under Operation DESERT SANITY V. The insurgents reportedly handed over their AK-47 rifles and assorted ammunition to the troops.
Lt. Col. Uba said troops have continued aggressive offensive operations across the state, recording significant successes through clearance missions, fighting patrols and blocking operations against terrorist elements.
He disclosed that on January 9, 2026, troops carried out extensive clearance operations in the Bulaagalda cluster, destroying several terrorist enclaves and camps located at Dagumba, Bonne, Yaganari, Gosuri and Umchile. Among the dismantled camps were those belonging to notorious terrorist commanders, Abu Nazir and Abu Ahmed.
During the operations, soldiers reportedly destroyed life-support facilities, disrupted terrorist logistics networks and recovered items including weapons, magazines and terrorist flags.
The military spokesperson added that similar operations in the Yale and Bula Gaida areas forced terrorists to flee their hideouts, leading to the destruction of additional logistics facilities and the recovery of arms, ammunition and a general-purpose machine gun.
“In another intelligence-led operation between Sojiri and Kayamla villages, troops engaged JAS/ISWAP elements, neutralising eight terrorists and recovering several AK-47 rifles,” the statement said.
It further revealed that two suspected terrorist logistics collaborators were arrested in Gubio Local Government Area for allegedly supplying materials to insurgents.
Lt. Col. Uba assured that troops remain determined to sustain the offensive, dismantle terrorist networks and restore lasting peace and security across the North-East region.
Meanwhile, the military recently intercepted a Peugeot vehicle at the Cameroon–Nigeria border conveying six bags of urea fertiliser, a key component used in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Further intelligence exploitation led to the arrest of the fertiliser dealer and the recovery of six additional bags, bringing the total seized to 12.
“All suspects and recovered items are currently in military custody for further investigation and appropriate legal action,” the statement concluded.
