Troops of the Joint Task Force, North East, under Operation Hadin Kai, have recorded a major operational breakthrough with the killing of a senior Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) leader, Abu Khalid, identified as the group’s second-in-command, alongside 10 other terrorists in the Sambisa Forest, Borno State.
The success followed a coordinated night operation conducted by troops of Sector 1 in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) under Operation Desert Sanity. The engagement occurred around 11:00 p.m. in the Komala general area of Konduga Local Government Area.
According to a statement by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Abu Khalid was a high-value target within the ISWAP hierarchy, responsible for coordinating operations and logistics across the Sambisa axis.
His elimination, he said, represents a significant disruption to the group’s command and control structure.
The operation came barely 24 hours after troops neutralised another notorious ISWAP commander, Julaibib, during a separate encounter in the Gujba axis of the Timbuktu Triangle. Military intelligence assessments indicate that the successive losses have thrown terrorist elements in the area into disarray.
Following the Sambisa engagement, troops recovered five AK-47 rifles, magazines, bicycles, assorted logistics and food items, as well as a large cache of medical supplies. No casualties were recorded among the troops.
The Joint Task Force said troops’ morale remains high as clearance operations continue across the Sambisa Forest, Mandara Mountains, Timbuktu Triangle and other known terrorist enclaves in the North-East.
In related operations, OPHK troops also recorded additional successes across the theatre. On 30 January 2026, troops eliminated ISWAP commander Julaibib during a fierce firefight around Kimba in Damboa Local Government Area, with intelligence indicating further terrorist casualties.
Similarly, troops working with the CJTF neutralised three terrorists during an ambush between Ngazalgana and Lamusheri communities, recovering two AK-47 rifles, while surviving insurgents fled with gunshot wounds.
Another ambush at Tsokorok in Gwoza Local Government Area forced Boko Haram and ISWAP elements to retreat, leaving one insurgent neutralised and two motorcycles recovered.
Beyond Borno, OPHK troops also foiled criminal activities in Adamawa State. On 29 January 2026, troops responded to a distress call from Barama community in Mubi North Local Government Area, arresting two armed robbery suspects and recovering cutlasses, laptops, mobile phones and other items.
Earlier, on 28 January 2026, troops in collaboration with local vigilantes conducted a fighting patrol along the Amtasa–Washim axis in Hong Local Government Area, rescuing an abducted woman and recovering weapons and ammunition after engaging terrorists.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations until all terrorist elements are neutralised and lasting peace and stability are restored.
By Linus Aleke, Abuja
Follow us on:
