The Nigerian military has announced the elimination of five top terrorist commanders and three of their deputies during sustained counter-terrorism operations across the North-East in January.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the activities of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI.
According to Onoja, troops, working in close coordination with the Air Component, hybrid forces and local security groups, effectively denied terrorist elements—Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS)—freedom of action across the region.
He explained that between January 1 and January 29, Nigerian forces conducted intensive ground and air operations in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, leading to the neutralisation of several terrorists, the arrest of 74 suspects, and the rescue of 40 kidnapped victims.
Onoja further revealed that 44 terrorists and their family members surrendered within the period as sustained military pressure weakened terrorist networks and disrupted their logistics.
“Notably, five top terrorist commanders and three of their lieutenants were neutralised during intense firefights in the theatre of operations,” he said.
The operations, he noted, included key clearance and interdiction missions in Gwoza, Damboa, Mobbar, Askira-Uba and Konduga Local Government Areas of Borno State, as well as Michika in Adamawa State and Damaturu in Yobe State.
He disclosed that two notorious terrorist commanders, Basulhu and Ubaida, were killed during a confrontation with troops in the Mandara Mountains on January 22, with several weapons and ammunition recovered at the scene.
The defence spokesman added that the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, alongside the Nigerian Army Aviation, carried out multiple air interdiction missions, including coordinated strikes on a newly identified terrorist hideout in the Northern Tumbuns, believed to be a hibernation zone for senior ISWAP commanders.
He said further air-ground operations in the Timbuktu Triangle led to the neutralisation of more terrorists, forcing others to flee with severe injuries.
Onoja stated that the sustained military offensives have significantly degraded terrorist capabilities and created conditions for the safe resettlement of displaced persons in parts of the North-East.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to maintaining pressure on terrorist groups until lasting peace and stability are fully restored in the region.
