Troops intensify crackdown, neutralise terror kingpin in Borno
Army
Abdullateef Fowewe
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have achieved major successes against insurgents and criminals across Borno and Adamawa states, eliminating high-value targets and disrupting terrorist operations.
In a standout operation on January 30 around Kimba in Damboa LGA, Borno State, intelligence confirmed the killing of JULAIBIB, a top ISWAP commander in the Gujba axis of the Timbuktu Triangle.
“The elimination of the terrorist leader has thrown ISWAP elements in the area into disarray, with several fighters reportedly neutralised during the operation,” stated Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for OPHK Headquarters in a statement on Saturday.
This strike represents “a major blow to the command and control structure of ISWAP in the region.”
Elsewhere in Borno, troops and the Civilian Joint Task Force ambushed terrorists between Ngazalgana and Lamusheri communities, neutralising three insurgents and recovering two AK-47 rifles.
“Troops tactically laid an ambush along the identified route and engaged the terrorists with effective firepower,” the statement noted.
On January 29 in Gwoza LGA’s Tsokorok area, an ambush killed one Boko Haram/ISWAP fighter and seized two motorcycles, with troops unscathed.
In Adamawa State, rapid response on January 29 in Barama, Mubi North LGA, foiled an armed robbery on a Federal Polytechnic Mubi student, arresting two suspects—one wounded—and recovering three cutlasses, two laptops, four phones, and a power bank.
The suspects were, however, handed to police.
Earlier on January 28 along the Amtasa-Washim axis in Hong LGA, a joint patrol with vigilantes engaged terrorists, rescued an abducted woman, and recovered an AK-47 rifle, an SMG, and 42 rounds of ammunition.
“The general security situation across the theatre remains stable,” OPHK affirmed, vowing to “protect lives and property, dismantle terrorist networks, and restore lasting peace” with community partners.
