RismadarVoice Reporters
June 13, 2026
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have repelled a coordinated attack by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, rescued nine abducted civilians, and arrested suspected terrorist collaborators in a series of operations across the North-East.
The military disclosed on Saturday that the operations, conducted between June 11 and 12, resulted in the recovery of arms, ammunition, and logistics supplies allegedly intended for insurgents, while further degrading terrorist networks operating in the region.
According to a statement by the Acting Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Haruna M. Sani, troops of Sector 2 rescued three abducted children during fighting and perimeter clearance patrols around the Amuda area on June 11.
The children, identified as Ali Usman, 15, Umar Ibrahim Abubakar, 15, and Fatima Abubakar, 12, reportedly escaped from terrorist enclaves in the Mandara Mountains following sustained military offensives against insurgent strongholds.
After profiling and documentation, the children were reunited with community leaders in Ngoshe.
In a separate operation on June 12, troops of Sector 3 foiled a kidnapping attempt along the Damasak–Gubio Main Supply Route and rescued six civilians who had been abandoned by fleeing terrorists following troop pursuit around the Kareto area.
The military also recorded successes against suspected insurgent collaborators and logistics suppliers. Troops of the 68 Battalion at Mallam Fatori ambushed suspected ISWAP scouts and recovered an AK-47 rifle with a loaded magazine containing 31 rounds of ammunition.
Meanwhile, troops at Checkpoint 61 intercepted 11 suspects travelling in two civilian vehicles under suspicious circumstances. Preliminary investigations linked the suspects to efforts to recover vehicles allegedly associated with terrorist logistics collaborators.
In another operation, troops arrested a suspected logistics courier, Malahi Liman Muhammad, along the Mandaragirau–Sabon Gari axis. Items recovered from him included herbicides, blankets, salt, food supplies, mobile phones and other materials believed to be intended for terrorist support activities.
The suspects are currently undergoing further investigation.
The military said one of the most significant engagements occurred in the early hours of June 12 when heavily armed Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters launched a three-pronged attack on troops at the COP Bridge location in Sector 1.
The attackers, reportedly operating with four gun trucks and several motorcycles, advanced simultaneously from the Wurge, Manawaji and Kinuba axes.
However, troops supported by artillery and mortar fire successfully repelled the assault, forcing the terrorists to retreat and abandon equipment.
Subsequent exploitation operations led to the recovery of three rocket-propelled grenade launchers, seven high-explosive anti-tank rounds and other unexploded ordnance.
According to the military, bloodstains and body marks found along the withdrawal route suggested that the terrorists suffered significant casualties during the failed attack.
One soldier sustained injuries from rocket-propelled grenade fragments and is receiving medical treatment.
Operation HADIN KAI said the latest operations demonstrated the effectiveness of its intelligence-driven campaign aimed at dismantling terrorist networks, disrupting insurgent logistics and protecting civilian populations across the North-East.
The military high command commended the troops for their professionalism and assured residents that security forces remain committed to restoring lasting peace and stability in the region.
