 have killed 16 fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and rescued 11){kind=link}
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have killed 16 fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and rescued 11 kidnapped victims during coordinated counter-terrorism operations in Borno State.
Military authorities said the success followed a failed assault by ISWAP insurgents on the Forward Operating Base in Auno late on February 5, 2026.
Soldiers under Sector 1 reportedly repelled the attack with what officials described as “disciplined and accurate firepower,” forcing the insurgents to retreat.
Building on that defensive victory, troops, working alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), launched a follow-up offensive on February 9 along the Komala axis in Konduga Local Government Area.
Security forces pursued the fleeing insurgents toward Gidan Kaji, where 16 of them were neutralised, while several others escaped with injuries.
During the operation, soldiers recovered more than 20 bicycles believed to have been used for mobility, alongside weapons and a significant cache of logistics supplies.
On the same day, troops also intercepted suspected ISWAP logistics couriers around the Bukarti axis, seizing a large quantity of drugs allegedly destined for terrorist elements.
Meanwhile, along the Buratai–Kamuya road, troops thwarted a kidnap attempt after detecting suspicious movements.
The swift response forced the assailants to abandon two captives, identified as Mallam Idris Adamu and Mallam Muhammadu Safiyanu, who were later reunited with their families in Buratai.
In a related development, soldiers responding to a distress call along the Chibok–Damboa corridor rescued nine additional kidnapped persons on February 9.
Military authorities stated that the operations reflect sustained efforts to dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt supply chains and strengthen civilian protection across the North-East theatre.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, confirmed the developments in a statement issued on February 10, 2026.