RismadarVoice Reporters
February 1, 2026
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have recorded a major operational success with the neutralization of a senior Boko Haram commander, Abu Khalid, alongside 10 other terrorists during a coordinated night operation in Borno State.
Abu Khalid, identified as the second-in-command of Boko Haram in the Sambisa Forest, was eliminated during a night offensive carried out by troops of Sector 1 in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) under Operation DESERT SANITY.
The operation took place at about 11:00p.m. in the Komala general area of Konduga Local Government Area, following credible intelligence on terrorist movements within the axis.
Military sources said the successful engagement came barely 24 hours after troops neutralised another notorious Boko Haram/ISWAP commander, Julaibib, operating within the Gujba axis of the Timbuktu Triangle, underscoring the sustained pressure being mounted on terrorist enclaves in the North East.
Abu Khalid was described as a key figure within the terrorist hierarchy, responsible for coordinating operations and logistics across the Sambisa axis.
Items recovered from the terrorists included five AK-47 rifles, magazines, several bicycles, assorted logistics and food items, as well as a large cache of medical supplies.
No casualties were recorded among the troops during the operation.
According to the Joint Task Force, troops’ morale remains high as clearance operations continue across the Sambisa Forest, Mandara Mountains, Timbuktu Triangle and other known Boko Haram and ISWAP hideouts in the region.
