Operation Hadin Kai’s Decisive Victory in the Timbuktu Triangle
By Samuel Aruwan
From Maiduguri, comes the crushing victory, a testament to the unyielding resolve of the Nigerian military. The troops of the Joint Task Force, North East-Operation Hadin Kai, have executed a masterstroke of modern counter-insurgency, delivering a debilitating blow to the very foundations of terrorist power as it was confirmed with the images of the breakthrough.
In a meticulously planned and courageously executed two-week offensive under the ongoing Operation Desert Sanity V, these gallant forces dared to penetrate the deepest shadows. They advanced into the forested heart of the once-impenetrable Timbuktu Triangle within Gujba Local Government Area. There, they did not merely engage the enemy; they systematically dismantled a cornerstone of his tyranny, capturing and destroying a notorious network of ISWAP terrorist detention facilities.
This operation marks far more than a tactical success; it signifies a strategic and psychological tipping point. It proves that no terrain, no sanctuary, is beyond the reach of Nigeria’s determined liberators. The victory was earned through the relentless application of sustained offensive pressure and brilliant, intelligence-led manoeuvres.
Commencing on the twenty-first of January, 2026, the operation saw mobile columns of highly trained troops, in seamless coordination with tactical air assets, conduct a methodical clearance of the daunting terrain that stretches across Borno and Yobe states. The pressure applied was so decisive that it forced terrorist elements to abandon their critical installations, leading to the stunning discovery and subsequent clearance of three major detention facilities.
These complexes, each a grim monument to the enemy’s cruelty, had a combined capacity to hold approximately three hundred detainees. This highlights their central role in ISWAP’s apparatus of coercion, ransom, and control over the local population. The terrorist response to this loss was one of desperate fury, leading to a series of fierce engagements where the superior training and firepower of our troops proved absolute.
In these confrontations, the adversaries suffered catastrophic losses, with no fewer than thirty-two fighters neutralized. The enemy’s command structure was particularly gutted, with the confirmed elimination of two high-ranking Qaids and three Munzirs responsible for logistics and administration. Several others fled with serious injuries.
Yet, amidst the clamour of battle emerged the operation’s most profound victory: the liberation of human life. The troops’ relentless advance directly catalyzed the escape of over seventy captives who had been held in squalid conditions. These individuals, embodying the operation’s true purpose, later resurfaced in villages such as Goniri, Buratai, and Mandaragirau, bringing with them tales of salvation.
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One such liberated captive, Malam Jidda Ba Jidda, a farmer from Kufi village abducted in late December 2025, disclosed that he seized his freedom during the intense gun duel between the terrorists and the advancing troops. His account is a powerful testament to the direct link between decisive military action and civilian liberation.
Following thorough clearance, engineers performed a final, decisive act of permanent denial by deliberately demolishing all three detention facilities. This ensured they could never again serve as houses of horror. The entire operation was conducted successfully and without incident, a flawless execution that reflects the highest standards of resilience, professionalism, discipline, and combat effectiveness inherent in the troops of Operation Hadin Kai.
The visual evidence of this victory—documented footage of the razed compounds and the testimonies of the freed, which Nigerians saw earlier this week—now serves a dual purpose. It stands as an immutable record for history, silencing any narrative of denial, while simultaneously broadcasting a clear and chilling warning to all terror factions: their strongest holds are vulnerable, their cruelest tools perishable, and the resolve of the Nigerian state to extinguish their reign is absolute. This proof transforms the victory from a momentary success into a lasting psychological weapon.
This monumental achievement stands as a direct reflection of the exemplary leadership of the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar. His strategic command, which emphasizes sustained ground dominance, intelligent exploitation of enemy vulnerabilities, and simultaneous synergy with other sister armed forces, police, and intelligence agencies, has further shaped and sustained the operational capabilities of the Theatre Command.
The Theatre Commander is a battle-tested officer, seasoned in Theatre Command operations. His distinguished service includes previous roles as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander of Sector 1 OPHK in Maiduguri, as well as Commander of Sector 3 OPHK and the Multinational Joint Task Force in Monguno. Furthermore, as the GOC of the 3rd Division and Force Commander of Operation Safe Haven (now Operation Enduring Peace), he decisively confronted contemporary security challenges across Plateau State and parts of Bauchi and Kaduna states, aggressively pursuing armed groups to deny them freedom of action and was well praised during his tour of duty.
This victory is a poignant reminder of the debt of gratitude owed to our men and women in uniform. In appreciation of the profound sacrifices made daily by the Armed Forces, the Police, the Department of State Services, and other security agencies, the citizenry must continue to stand resolutely behind them. They put their lives on the line to secure a free Nigeria where law and order prevail, creating the foundation upon which all citizens can realize their dreams and aspirations.
Aruwan is a postgraduate student at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
