Troops Foil Terrorist Attacks in Adamawa, Borno, Eliminate Fleeing Insurgents
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have repelled coordinated terrorist attacks in parts of Adamawa and Borno States, neutralising scores of insurgents in follow-up air and ground operations, military authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The attacks occurred in the early hours of January 16, 2026, when terrorists attempted to overrun a patrol base at Sabon Gari in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, under Sector 4 of OPHK.
According to the Joint Task Force, alert troops swiftly engaged the attackers, with reinforcements arriving from Gulak and the Battalion Quick Reaction Force. The coordinated response forced the terrorists to abandon the assault without any casualties recorded among the troops or damage to military equipment.
After the encounter, the area was thoroughly cleared and scanned for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and possible booby traps to ensure the safety of both civilians and security personnel.
In a related incident the same day, terrorists launched a large-scale, multi-directional attack on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Azir in Borno State. The assailants attempted to breach sections of the defensive perimeter but were met with sustained and overwhelming firepower from troops, supported by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI and other Nigerian Army aerial platforms.
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The ensuing firefight, which lasted for more than an hour, ended with the terrorists being forced to retreat.
During the exchange, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) fire from the attackers affected troop-carrying vehicles and the CCTV control room at the base, which were partially damaged by fire. Despite this, troops maintained control of the facility and prevented any breakthrough.
Military sources said several weapons and large quantities of ammunition were recovered from the fleeing terrorists, including a 60mm mortar tube, mortar bombs, locally fabricated explosives, heavy machine gun rounds and hundreds of rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
The operation extended beyond the base, as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms tracked the retreating fighters along their withdrawal routes. Precision airstrikes by Nigerian Air Force platforms reportedly neutralised additional scores of terrorists, dealing what the military described as a “severe blow” to the group’s fighting capacity and morale.
“Evidence from the exploitation confirmed that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties,” the military said in a statement signed by Lieutenant SA Atokolo, Acting Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to securing the North East and denying terrorists freedom of movement, vowing that operations would continue until all threats are eliminated.
By PRNigeria
