By Harriet Tornguvan
Troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, have repelled coordinated terrorist assaults in multiple locations across the theatre, neutralising several fighters and destroying logistics assets in renewed offensive operations.
The military said the failed attacks on Limankara and Kukawa in Borno State on the night of February 20, 2026, showed increasing pressure on terrorist enclaves, supply routes and leadership structures as troops intensify ground and air offensives.
In a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the troops’ sustained operations were described as part of ongoing efforts to deny insurgents freedom of movement and force them into disorganised withdrawals with heavy losses.
Expanding the offensive, troops of Sector 2 under Operation DESERT SANITY V, acting on weeks of intelligence supported by surveillance platforms, conducted a precision raid in the early hours of February 22 around Lamusheri village in Gujba Local Government Area.
The location was identified as a major launch point for attacks and a logistics hub for terrorists. Despite coming under fire while advancing, troops, working with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, outflanked the insurgents and blocked their escape routes.
During the firefight, 15 terrorists were neutralised while several others fled with gunshot wounds. Troops also destroyed defensive shelters and support structures, burnt five tricycles and two operational vehicles, and recovered arms, ammunition, bandoliers and other combat equipment.
On the same night, insurgents attempted to infiltrate the Forward Operating Base at Limankara. Alert troops immediately engaged the attackers in a fierce exchange, while rapid reinforcements and air support overwhelmed the assailants.
The terrorists were forced to retreat through the burial ground axis, leaving behind casualties confirmed through human intelligence sources. The military reported no casualties or equipment losses among its personnel, adding that the situation remained under control.
Kukawa assault repelled after prolonged battle
Also on the same night, terrorists mounted on gun trucks and motorcycles launched a coordinated multi-directional attack on troops in Kukawa from the Alagarno and Jemmu approaches.
Prepared troops mounted a strong defence, engaging the attackers in an intense firefight that lasted into the early hours of February 21. Supported by aerial firepower, the insurgents were eventually overpowered and withdrew while evacuating their casualties.
Air platforms later destroyed one gun truck, killing four fighters. Persistent aerial surveillance tracked fleeing insurgents on five motorcycles to a regrouping point, where another precision strike destroyed the motorcycles and neutralised an additional 10 fighters.
During follow-up exploitation, troops recovered 13 AK-47 rifles, 16 loaded magazines, three handheld radios, and stretchers used by the insurgents, alongside evidence of shallow graves and blood trails.
The military, however, confirmed that one soldier was killed in action, while some equipment was damaged by rocket fire. Wounded personnel were evacuated by Nigerian Army aviation helicopters and were reported to be in stable condition.
The coordinated air-ground operations were said to have compounded enemy losses and reinforced the operational dominance of troops across the theatre.
Military authorities commended the soldiers for their performance and urged them to sustain the tempo of operations aimed at degrading the combat capacity of terrorist groups operating in the North-East.
