Operation Hadin Kai Thwarts Boko Haram and ISWAP Attack in Borno State
During operations conducted between June 11 and June 12, 2026, Operation Hadin Kai forces successfully repelled a coordinated assault by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State. The military’s efforts included rescuing nine civilians who had been abducted and apprehending a suspected collaborator with the insurgents.
This information was disclosed by Lt. Col. Haruna M. Sani, the acting media and information officer for Operation Hadin Kai, in a statement released on Saturday. The military reported significant victories, including the rescue of kidnapped children and the capture of suspected terrorist collaborators involved in logistics operations, as well as the recovery of weapons and other essential materials.
In one notable operation, troops from Sector 2, engaged in combat and surveillance patrols in the Amuda area, were able to rescue three children identified as Ali Usman and Umar Ibrahim Abubakar, both 15, and 12-year-old Fatima Abubakar. Initial investigations indicated that the children managed to escape during sustained military offensives against terrorist positions in the Saha and Chinene regions of the Mandara Mountains.
After a thorough profiling process, the children were safely reunited with local community leaders in Goshe. Additionally, on June 12, Sector 3 troops rescued six more civilians during an attempted kidnapping incident along the Damasak-Gubio main supply route, where the terrorists abandoned their hostages while fleeing from pursuing military forces near Kareto.
The military’s operations also led to the interception of several suspected rebel collaborators and logistics operators. Reports indicated that troops from the Malam Fatli’s 68th Battalion ambushed a suspected ISWAP scout, recovering an AK-47 rifle with a magazine containing 31 rounds of ammunition. Furthermore, troops stationed at Checkpoint 61 detained 11 suspects traveling in two civilian vehicles under suspicious circumstances.
Preliminary investigations suggested that these individuals were attempting to retrieve a vehicle linked to a known logistics collaborator believed to be supporting terrorism in the Ali Sherifti neighborhood. In another related operation, Malahi Liman Muhammad, a suspected logistics courier for the terrorists, was apprehended along the Mandaragirau-Sabon-Gari axis, with the military recovering various items such as herbicides, blankets, and food supplies meant to sustain insurgent activities.
A significant attack on troops stationed at the COP Bridge site was launched by armed Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters on the morning of June 12. The terrorists, utilizing four gun trucks and several motorcycles, initiated simultaneous assaults from the Urji, Manawaj, and Kinuba axes. However, the troops successfully repelled the attack, aided by timely artillery and mortar support.
After the insurgents’ retreat, troops conducted an extraction operation, discovering three rocket-propelled grenade launchers, seven anti-tank grenades, and other unexploded ordnance left behind. Evidence, including blood and body marks along the withdrawal route, indicated that the attackers suffered significant losses. Nonetheless, one soldier was injured by a grenade fragment during the confrontation and is currently receiving medical treatment.
Lt. Col. Sani emphasized that the recent operations exemplify the effectiveness of ongoing military strategies designed to dismantle terrorist networks while ensuring the safety of civilians in the Northeast. He reassured citizens of the military’s unwavering commitment to restoring long-term peace and security in the region, praising the troops for their professionalism and dedication in the face of adversity.
