By Joy Odor Reportcircle News Maiduguri, January 22, 2026
Nigeria’s counter-insurgency campaign in the North East has entered a decisive phase as troops intensify kinetic and non-kinetic operations across key terrorist enclaves, forcing mass surrenders, degrading leadership structures and restoring civilian life in once-abandoned communities.
This was the clear message from the Theatre Commander (TC), Joint Task Force (JTF) North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, during a detailed briefing of Defence Media Correspondents at the Second Bi-Annual Media Tour, held from 20–22 January 2026 in Maiduguri.
Welcoming journalists back to the North East, which he described as “the home of peace,” the Theatre Commander underscored the central role of strategic communication in modern warfare, warning that asymmetric conflicts are fought as much in the information space as on the battlefield.
“If the media tells the story of terrorists and bandits without context, it becomes oxygen for the adversary,” he said. “We must drive the narrative and deny them that space.”
Major General Abubakar revealed that Operation HADIN KAI has received clear marching orders to intensify offensive operations across all major terrorist strongholds, including the Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu Triangle, Mandara Mountains and the Lake Chad islands.
According to him, sustained pressure has yielded tangible results.
“Currently, we have recorded over 16,000 surrenders, and this is a direct consequence of the immense pressure being brought to bear on terrorist elements,” he disclosed.
He noted that the improved security situation has had a direct impact on civilian life, enabling communities to sleep without fear and reviving socio-economic activities across the region.
Reflecting on past misreporting of military engagements, the Theatre Commander cited instances where operational successes were overshadowed by casualty-focused narratives that failed to reflect battlefield realities.
He praised defence correspondents for improved professionalism, noting a marked shift toward verification and engagement before publication.
“Several months later, we began to see a huge change in reporting, and that deserves commendation,” he said.
Beyond combat, Operation HADIN KAI continues to execute extensive non-kinetic operations.
Troops provide daily armed escorts for United Nations agencies and NGOs delivering humanitarian assistance deep into remote communities.
The military has also maintained sustained protection for farmers during planting and harvest seasons under the Troops-in-Farming Initiative, ensuring food production continues despite security challenges.
The Theatre Commander announced the expansion of Operation HADIN KAI from three to four sectors, with the new sector focused on parts of Borno and Adamawa States, aimed at blocking terrorist movement corridors.
He stressed that protecting isolated and vulnerable communities, many of them Christian settlements remains a top priority.
“This is a sensitive area, and daily operations are conducted to ensure these communities are protected,” he said.
However, he acknowledged terrain and access challenges, noting that some communities barely 50 kilometres away can take up to five hours to reach due to poor infrastructure.
Significant progress has been recorded under stabilization operations designed to prepare communities for safe civilian return.
Towns such as Kukawa, Kakarno, Marte, Damasak axis, Dalori and Darajamal have been resettled, with economic and commercial activities visibly rebounding.
“If you visit Kukawa today, you will hardly believe it was once abandoned,” the commander said.
Ongoing stabilization is also taking place in Malam Fatori, Mihari and other strategic locations, with collaboration from state governments identified as crucial to long-term success.
Major General Abubakar disclosed that 53 key terrorist leaders have been neutralised since late 2025, including Abu Fatimah, who carried a bounty of over ₦100 million.
He attributed these successes to intelligence-driven operations, enhanced by strategic cooperation with the United States, which has provided high-value intelligence supporting air and ground strikes.
The Theatre Commander acknowledged a resurgence of suicide bombing attempts and IED attacks, describing them as a sign of desperation.
“When terrorists cannot match your capacity in kinetic operations, they resort to suicide bombings, it is the kick of a dying horse,” he said.
He confirmed that 15 would-be suicide bombers have been arrested, three neutralised, and key masterminds apprehended across Borno and Adamawa States.
On armed drones, he noted that terrorist groups linked to ISIS networks are attempting to import such technologies.
However, he assured that the military has evolved effective counter-measures.
“In the last month, we have not lost a single soldier to armed drone attacks,” he stated.
The Theatre Commander revealed that troops have intercepted over 10,000 litres of fuel and lubricants, significantly disrupting terrorist logistics.
He emphasized that these successes depend heavily on cooperation from local populations.
“To defeat insurgency, you must separate the fish from the water the terrorists from the people,” he said.
Amphibious operations in the Lake Chad region remain a key focus, with troops having cleared over 10 kilometres of waterways, enabling deeper force projection into island territories long exploited by terrorists.
Concluding his briefing, Major General Abubakar stressed that defeating asymmetric warfare requires a whole-of-society approach, urging Nigerians to see the fight as one against terrorism, not against the armed forces.
“We are Nigerians. It is us against them,” he said, expressing confidence that continued intelligence-led operations could degrade terrorist capacity by up to 98 percent.
He reaffirmed that Nigeria’s Armed Forces remain among the strongest in Africa and pledged sustained momentum until lasting peace is secured in the North East.
