By Harriet Tornguvan
The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has neutralised a major terrorist logistics hub and enclave in a precision air strike at Jilli in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State, dealing a significant blow to insurgent operations in the North East.
The strike, carried out on April 11, 2026, followed weeks of sustained Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions over the Bindul–Jilli axis, an area identified by military authorities as a critical corridor for the movement and coordination of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and their collaborators.
According to a statement by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the operation was intelligence-driven and carefully executed after multiple credible sources confirmed the presence of terrorists and their logistics network in the area.
The military disclosed that the renewed offensive was partly in response to recent attacks linked to the same network, including an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) incident in January along the Bindul axis that claimed the lives of eight soldiers. Additionally, coordinated assaults were reported in Ngamdu and Benisheikh on April 9, prompting intensified aerial surveillance and intelligence gathering.
During the April 11 operation, ISR platforms detected the movement of suspected террорист elements, including motorcycles and gun trucks converging on Jilli. The suspicious activity was corroborated by human intelligence, confirming the presence of terrorists, logistics handlers, and collaborators at the location.
Following a rigorous targeting process and final validation, the Air Component launched precision strikes on the identified позиции, maintaining continuous aerial monitoring for real-time battle damage assessment.
Post-strike analysis indicated that the operation achieved high accuracy, destroying the террорист logistics enclave and neutralising scores of fighters. Several vehicles and технические platforms were also уничтожены, while surviving elements were seen fleeing the area.
Military intelligence further revealed that the neutralised group had been in the final stages of receiving supplies intended for coordinated attacks on troop positions within the Gubio axis, indicating that the strike effectively thwarted imminent террорист operations.
In a related development, troops arrested a suspected logistics courier identified as “Turja Bulu” in Ngamdu on April 12. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect participated in the April 9 attack on a military formation in Benisheikh and had been dispatched from Jilli to deliver supplies to террорист cells operating around the Magumeri-Gubio area.
The Theatre Command stated that the operation underscores its commitment to sustaining pressure on террорист elements, dismantling their logistics networks, and restricting their freedom of movement across the theatre of operations.
It также reiterated that the use of motorcycles remains strictly prohibited in parts of the North East, particularly in Borno State and Yobe State, due to their continued exploitation by insurgents for mobility.
The Joint Task Force assured residents of the region that operations would continue with renewed intensity until all террорист enclaves are eliminated and lasting peace restored.
