By Micah Jonah
January 16, 2026
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully foiled coordinated terrorist attacks in Adamawa and Borno States, inflicting heavy losses on fleeing insurgents during follow-up operations.
In the early hours of 16 January, militants attempted to overrun a patrol base at Sabon Gari in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State under Sector 4 OPHK. Alert troops engaged the attackers with reinforcements from Gulak and the Battalion Quick Reaction Force, repelling the assault without suffering casualties or equipment losses. The area was subsequently cleared and scanned for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to safeguard civilians and military personnel.
Later the same day, a large-scale, multi-directional attack targeted Forward Operating Base (FOB) Azir in Borno State. The insurgents initially breached part of the perimeter but were met with sustained firepower from ground troops and aerial support from the Nigerian Air Force. After an hour-long firefight, the attackers were forced to retreat.
During the clash, terrorists’ Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) fire damaged Troop Carrying Vehicles and the CCTV control room, which was partially gutted. Despite this, troops maintained control, recovering a cache of weapons and ammunition, including a 60mm mortar tube, mortar bombs, heavy machine gun rounds, and hundreds of rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms tracked the fleeing insurgents, allowing the Air Component of OPHK to carry out precision follow-up strikes. These operations neutralised additional scores of terrorists, dealing a significant blow to their operational capacity and morale.
The Nigerian Army emphasized that the operations underscore the troops’ commitment to denying terrorists freedom of dismantling their networks, and safeguarding communities in the North East. Security operations remain ongoing to eliminate remaining threats.
