Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have successfully foiled two separate terrorist ambushes in Borno State.

The ambushes led to the discovery and neutralisation of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and the arrest of suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) logistics suppliers.

The operations were conducted under Operations Desert Sanity IV and V, aimed at disrupting terrorist movements, securing critical routes, and degrading insurgents’ logistics networks across the North East.

In the first incident, troops of the 25 Brigade, while on a Main Supply Route (MSR) patrol along the Damboa–Komala axis on December 17, 2025, discovered an IED suspected to have been planted to ambush troops and unsuspecting commuters.

The device was promptly secured and safely detonated in a controlled operation, thereby preventing casualties and ensuring the continued safety of road users.

According to a statement posted on the Nigerian Army’s X handle on Sunday, the operation followed credible intelligence that more than 100 Boko Haram terrorists had converged in the area to launch coordinated attacks on nearby communities and transport supplies to their strongholds.

“Acting on this intelligence, troops, working in close synergy with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and local vigilantes, swiftly mobilised to intercept the terrorists. Contact was made at about 1200 hours as the terrorists advanced.

“The troops immediately engaged the enemy in a fierce and sustained firefight. During the encounter, the terrorists attempted a rear-flanking attack on the troops, which was effectively thwarted as troops responded with superior firepower, dominating the engagement.

“Subsequent aggressive exploitation deep into the forest confirmed the neutralisation of 21 terrorists, with several others believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds,” the statement added.

In a second ambush-prevention operation on December 19, 2025, troops of OPHK, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a Lagos-registered vehicle with plate number AKD 244 YE at a checkpoint along the Maiduguri–Bama Road.

The vehicle was suspected to be part of a logistics supply chain intended to support Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists operating around Kirawa Ward in Gwoza Local Government Area.

Following the interception, two suspects were arrested.

Items recovered from the vehicle included large quantities of assorted food items and energy drinks, three mobile phones, an identity card, a ring, and sums of cash in both Nigerian naira and CFA franc.

Military sources said the supplies were intended to sustain terrorist elements and facilitate planned attacks in the area.

The suspects, vehicle, and recovered items have since been handed over to the appropriate military intelligence unit for further investigation and necessary action.

Commending the troops for their vigilance and professionalism, the Military High Command urged them to sustain the operational tempo.

It reaffirmed the Nigerian military’s resolve to deny terrorists freedom of action, dismantle their logistics networks, and ensure the safety and security of citizens across the North East.