By Our Defence Correspondent
What began as a desperate midnight assault by ISWAP fighters on a military base in Borno ended in a crushing counter-offensive that left at least 16 terrorists dead, their logistics shattered and kidnapped civilians rescued in a string of rapid-fire operations across the North East.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI in a press statement informed that the Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), turned what security sources described as a “failed infiltration attempt” into a sweeping battlefield victory that rippled from Auno to Konduga, Buratai and the Chibok–Damboa axis.
At a few minutes to midnight on February 5, ISWAP fighters launched an attack on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Auno, a strategic community along the Maiduguri–Damaturu highway.
But Sector 1 troops were ready.
With what military authorities called disciplined firepower and tactical precision, soldiers repelled the insurgents, forcing them to retreat under heavy resistance.
The failed assault would soon trigger a calculated and punishing response.
Four days later, on February 9, troops working in close synergy with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) advanced along the Komala axis in Konduga Local Government Area, tracking fleeing fighters.
The pursuit stretched up to the Gidan Kaji axis, where troops engaged the insurgents in a fierce confrontation.
By the time the smoke cleared, 16 terrorists had been neutralised. Several others escaped with severe injuries, abandoning critical supplies in their frantic withdrawal.
Recovered from the scene were over 20 bicycles commonly used by insurgents for mobility across difficult terrain along with a large cache of logistics items, weapons and operational supplies described as vital to terrorist movement and sustainment.
Security sources said the seizure dealt a significant blow to ISWAP’s field logistics network.
Logistics Suppliers Nabbed
In a related operation the same day, troops intercepted suspected ISWAP logistics couriers around the Bukarti axis.
The suspects were allegedly transporting large quantities of drugs believed to be destined for terrorist camps.
Military authorities said the arrest further disrupted the supply chain that sustains insurgent operations in the region.
As the offensive unfolded, troops also thwarted a kidnapping attempt along the Buratai–Kamuya road.
After detecting suspicious movements, soldiers moved swiftly, pursuing the terrorists and forcing them to abandon their captives in the bush.
Two victims Mallam Idris Adamu and Mallam Muhammadu Safiyanu were rescued and safely reunited with their families in Buratai.
Later on February 9, troops responded to a distress call along the volatile Chibok–Damboa axis.
In a coordinated clearance operation, nine kidnapped victims were rescued without casualties, further underscoring what military authorities described as OPHK’s “relentless civilian protection posture.”
Military sources say the string of operations reflects a broader strategy of aggressive pursuit and denial of safe havens to terrorist elements across Borno and adjoining areas.
The Theatre’s command insists that beyond combat victories, the mission remains focused on safeguarding communities, supporting humanitarian efforts and dismantling terrorist networks at every level from frontline fighters to logistics suppliers.
For residents of Auno, Konduga, Buratai and communities along the Chibok–Damboa corridor, the message from the battlefield was unmistakable: the troops are not only holding ground they are hunting.
