OPHK Troops Neutralised 1,106 Terrorists, Recovered 24,409 Ammunition Under Gen. Abubakar’s Command
The outgoing Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, says troops neutralised more than 1,106 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists during his tenure, including several high-profile commanders operating across the North-East.
Abubakar made the disclosure during his farewell engagement with humanitarian partners, representatives of the Borno State Government and journalists in Maiduguri. The commander, who served as the 15th Theatre Commander of OPHK, said the operational gains were achieved through sustained kinetic and non-kinetic operations aimed at degrading terrorist networks and restoring normal socio-economic life across the region.
He listed several notable terrorist leaders neutralised under his watch, including Abu Bilal Al-Muniki (Abu Mainok), Malam Jidda, Amir of Ngorgore and Malumti, Abu Modu, Modu Dogo, Munzir of Dogon Chukun, Abu Aisha, Qaid of Tumbun Mota, and Abul Kaka. According to him, the elimination of these commanders significantly disrupted Boko Haram and ISWAP cells and contributed to sustained pressure on insurgents across the Theatre.
Maj.-Gen. Abubakar said troops recovered 475 assorted weapons and 24,409 rounds of ammunition of various calibres. He added that troops discovered and safely detonated 295 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) between April 2025 and September 2026, preventing their use against civilians and security forces.
He said OPHK intensified operations against terrorist financial and logistics networks, leading to the interception of over ₦300 million linked to terrorist financiers and the arrest of 758 suspected logistics collaborators. These efforts, he noted, weakened insurgent supply chains and contributed to an unprecedented wave of surrenders.
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Abubakar said 969 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters and their family members surrendered within the last year, attributing the development to sustained military pressure and non-kinetic engagements that provided a dignified exit pathway for repentant fighters. He added that troops rescued 638 civilians from terrorist enclaves, including the successful rescue of all 46 students during an attempted abduction at the Federal Government Girls College, Monguno.
He said the operational gains translated into broader improvements in security across Borno State, with more than 7,000 displaced families returning to their ancestral communities. Returned communities now exist in every Local Government Area of the state. He also highlighted the voluntary repatriation of more than 3,000 Nigerian citizens from Cameroon through collaboration between the Borno State Government, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Abubakar noted that indicators of improving normalcy include the return of the National Youth Service Corps orientation programme to Maiduguri after 13 years, and the resumption of WAEC and NECO examinations in communities such as Banki and Gwoza. Trade routes previously disrupted by insurgency have reopened, while local markets in several communities have resumed activities.
He said the Theatre was strengthened structurally and technologically during the period, including the operationalisation of Sector 4 to close an operational gap between Southern Borno and Northern Adamawa. He added that the induction of Nigerian Army Aviation helicopters and the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft System Regiment enhanced the precision and effectiveness of air-supported operations. The Military Command and Control Centre was also upgraded to link frontline surveillance cameras, providing commanders with improved situational awareness and quicker operational responses.
Maj.-Gen. Abubakar emphasised that the achievements recorded were the result of collective efforts involving troops, security agencies, the Borno State Government, humanitarian organisations, traditional leaders, community stakeholders and the media. He urged partners to sustain the cooperation needed to consolidate gains and stabilise liberated communities.
He is handing over command of OPHK to Maj.-Gen. Ibikunle Ajose, who assumes duty as the new Theatre Commander. The change of command comes as OPHK continues operations against remaining Boko Haram and ISWAP elements while supporting the resettlement of displaced populations across the North-East.
By PRNigeria
