In a sweeping counter-insurgency breakthrough, Nigerian Army troops under the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have freed 86 hostages and arrested 29 suspected logistics suppliers of Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.
The coordinated operations, carried out across multiple fronts, signal a renewed offensive by the military to cripple terrorist networks and disrupt their logistics corridors in the North East.
The rescue operation unfolded on Sunday, November 9, 2025, when troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion reportedlylaunched a swift response to actionable intelligence about a group of captives being moved by insurgents along the Buratai–Kamuya Road.
In a brief but fierce engagement, the troops overpowered the terrorists, securing the release of 86 kidnapped victims, including men, women, and children, and thwarting the insurgents’ attempt to relocate them deeper into forest hideouts.
Military sources said the quick reaction was made possible through enhanced surveillance and improved coordination under the revamped OPHK intelligence system.
“The operation demonstrated the speed and precision of our troops in responding to credible intelligence,” one senior officer disclosed.
In another decisive strike, troops established a dragnet at Mangada, intercepting 29 suspected terrorist logistics suppliers. The suspects were reportedly en route to deliver supplies to known insurgent enclaves.
Recovered items included 1,000 litres of petrol, several gallons of engine oil, two new gun truck tyres, medical consumables, and large quantities of food items and provisions.
Security analysts described the seizure as “a severe blow to the insurgents’ operational sustainability,” given that fuel, spare parts, and food are lifelines of their combat operations.
Follow-up clearance operations led to the destruction of 11 terrorist hideouts and the recovery of weapons and vehicles. The military high command lauded the troops’ gallantry and professionalism, urging them to sustain the momentum to deny terrorists any sanctuary.
“These victories reflect the renewed synergy, intelligence depth, and tactical advantage of Operation Hadin Kai in the ongoing campaign against terrorism,” the statement read.
