Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have successfully disrupted a Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) extortion operation in Yobe State, neutralising one suspected terrorist and recovering weapons, ammunition and logistics materials during the mission.
The military also said the operation prevented the terrorists from carrying out an alleged mission to collect illegal levies from residents, thereby cutting off one of their suspected sources of operational funding.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Military Information Officer of the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni.
According to the statement, troops of Sector 2, Operation HADIN KAI, acted on credible intelligence regarding the movement of suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP members travelling in two Volkswagen Golf vehicles and several motorcycles.
The intelligence indicated that the group was heading towards communities to extort residents under the guise of collecting illegal taxes.
“Acting on credible and actionable intelligence on the movement of two Volkswagen Golf vehicles and motorcycles conveying suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists to collect illegal levies from local communities, troops of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bukarti, in conjunction with 27 Task Force Brigade, swiftly deployed on an aggressive fighting patrol to the Paya Kafiya axis at about on 19 July 2026,” the statement read.
The military said the troops intercepted the terrorists and immediately launched an offensive, engaging them with what it described as overwhelming firepower.
During the encounter, one of the Volkswagen Golf vehicles conveying the suspected terrorists was hit and immobilised.
The driver of the vehicle was killed during the exchange of gunfire.
“The troops made contact with the terrorists and immediately engaged them with overwhelming and superior firepower.
“During the ensuing firefight, one of the Volkswagen Golf vehicles was successfully engaged and immobilised, while its driver was neutralised.
“Unable to withstand the troops’ overwhelming combat superiority, four other terrorists abandoned the vehicle and fled into the surrounding bush with gunshot wounds,” the statement added.
The military explained that troops subsequently carried out exploitation operations within the area to recover items abandoned by the fleeing insurgents.
Among the items recovered were 25 rounds of belted PKT ammunition, one loaded AK-47 rifle magazine, 15 empty PKT ammunition cases, assorted medications, including paracetamol, nicotine products and mechanical tools believed to support terrorist logistics operations.
Operation HADIN KAI stated that the successful operation underscores the effectiveness of intelligence-driven military operations in disrupting terrorist activities and dismantling their financial and logistics networks.
The military further reiterated its commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups across the North-East through coordinated operations conducted in collaboration with other security agencies.
According to the statement, efforts will continue to target insurgents and destroy their logistics, funding channels and operational capabilities until lasting peace is restored to the region.
The military also appealed to members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information concerning suspicious persons, movements and activities within their communities.
It stressed that intelligence provided by residents remains critical to the success of ongoing counter-terrorism operations and the restoration of peace in the North-East.
