REVEALED: How Military Raided ISWAP Detention Camps in Timbuktu Triangle, Freed Dozens of Captives in Major Offensive
Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have recorded a major operational breakthrough with the destruction of three notorious Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) detention facilities deep inside the forested Timbuktu Triangle in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The operation, conducted over the past two weeks under Operation Desert Sanity V, marks one of the deepest military advances into areas long regarded as terrorist inner sanctuaries, significantly degrading ISWAP’s operational and coercive capabilities.
According to a statement by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the intelligence-led offensive forced terrorist elements to abandon critical infrastructure within their strongholds, exposing and enabling the destruction of the detention facilities.
From January 21, 2026, troops uncovered and dismantled three major holding camps concealed within the dense Timbuktu Triangle forest, which spans parts of Borno and Yobe states. Preliminary assessments indicated that the facilities had the capacity to hold up to 300 detainees, underscoring their strategic importance to ISWAP’s internal enforcement and ransom operations.
Read Also:
The sustained military pressure also 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, where they recounted their ordeal and confirmed the circumstances of their escape.
One of the freed captives, Malam Jidda Ba Jidda, a native of Kufi village near Buratai in Biu Local Government Area, said he was abducted on December 22, 2025, and managed to flee during a fierce gun battle between ISWAP fighters and advancing troops in the Timbuktu Triangle.
During a series of engagements in the area, the military said ISWAP suffered heavy losses, with no fewer than 32 fighters neutralised, including two senior commanders (Qaids) and three Munzirs, while several others sustained serious injuries.
Following a thorough clearance of the zone, the three detention facilities were deliberately demolished to permanently deny the terrorists any opportunity to reoccupy or reuse the sites.
“The destruction of the camps goes beyond a tactical victory. It degrades ISWAP’s internal enforcement mechanisms, disrupts their ability to detain civilians for ransom, and constricts their freedom of action,” the statement said.
The military added that the mass escape of detainees not only weakens the group’s funding streams but also erodes its control over local populations, while potentially providing valuable intelligence to support ongoing operations.
While noting that the overall security situation across the theatre remains calm but unpredictable, OPHK said troop morale and combat efficiency remain high.
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.
By PRNigeria
