By Harriet Tornguvan -Abuja
Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have recorded a major operational breakthrough with the discovery and destruction of notorious ISWAP terrorist detention facilities hidden deep within the forested Timbuktu Triangle in Gujba Local Government Area.
The development, achieved through carefully coordinated operations over the past two weeks, represents a significant advance into areas previously regarded as beyond the reach of security forces and highlights the increasing effectiveness of ongoing counter-insurgency efforts in the North East.
In a statement issued by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the operation was carried out under Operation DESERT SANITY V following sustained offensive pressure and intelligence-driven manoeuvres that forced terrorists to abandon key facilities within their strongholds.
According to the statement, troops uncovered and destroyed three major detention camps between January 21, 2026, and date. Preliminary assessments showed the facilities could hold up to 300 captives, underscoring their strategic role in ISWAP’s operational and coercive network.
The offensive action reportedly led to the escape of more than 70 captives previously held by the terrorists. Many of the escapees later resurfaced in communities including Goniri, Buratai and Mandaragirau.
One of the freed captives, Malam Jidda Ba Jidda, a native of Kufi village near Buratai in Biu Local Government Area, said he escaped during a gun battle between terrorists and advancing troops after being abducted on December 22, 2025.
The military also recorded heavy terrorist casualties during the encounters. No fewer than 32 ISWAP fighters were neutralised, including two Qaids and three Munzirs, while several others sustained serious injuries.
After clearing the area, troops deliberately demolished the facilities to prevent their reoccupation, permanently denying ISWAP the ability to reuse the camps.
Military authorities described the operation as a major blow to the group’s internal enforcement structure, disrupting its capacity to detain civilians, extort ransom and maintain control over local populations.
The Armed Forces reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist elements, denying them safe havens and restoring lasting peace and security across the North East.
