Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Maiduguri, Borno State — Nigerian troops have recorded fresh successes in their ongoing counter-insurgency campaign in Borno State, with **11 suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters surrendering to military forces and eight others killed during separate engagements, military authorities have confirmed.
In an official statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), the recent developments unfolded amid sustained offensive pressure by troops under Operation DESERT SANITY V along the Azir–Wajiroko axis on January 10, 2026. The operations are part of broader efforts to dismantle insurgent infrastructure, degrade terrorist logistics and restore security across volatile parts of the North-East region.
According to the statement, the 11 fighters voluntarily surrendered to troops, laying down their AK-47 rifles and assorted ammunition after enduring continuous clearance, patrol and blocking operations that denied them freedom of manoeuvre within their enclaves. The surrendered suspects are now in the custody of military forces pending further screening and intelligence assessment.
The military narrative highlights that the counter-insurgency push also involved the destruction of several active terrorist camps and life-support structures within the Bulaagalda cluster — including locations at Dagumba, Bonne, Yaganari, Gosuri and Umchile — where troops dismantled logistics facilities, recovered weapons, ammunition and extremist paraphernalia, and forced elements to flee or abandon positions.
In a related operation, troops acting on credible intelligence engaged Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters between Sojiri and Kayamla villages, resulting in the neutralisation of eight insurgents and the recovery of additional AK-47 rifles. The encounters underscore the Nigerian military’s dual offensive strategy of direct engagement with hostile elements and the application of sustained pressure to encourage defections or surrender.
The joint task force also reported the arrest of two suspected logistics collaborators in Gubio Local Government Area, believed to have been supplying material support to insurgent groups operating in the region, further disrupting their operational networks.
Military officials described the results as part of a concerted effort to destroy extremist sanctuaries and roll back insurgent capabilities, reflecting an evolving battlefield dynamic where targeted operations aim to reduce the capacity of outlawed groups to regroup or launch attacks on civilians and security formations. The military has reiterated its resolve to sustain offensive operations and expand intelligence-led activities across all fronts until lasting peace and security are restored throughout the North-East.
The latest developments come against a backdrop of ongoing insecurity in Borno State, which has for years borne the brunt of Boko Haram-linked violence, including attacks on communities, abductions and clashes with Nigerian security forces. The operational successes reported by the military signal continued momentum in efforts to contain and reverse the influence of extremist networks in the region, even as sporadic episodes of violence underscore the enduring complexity of the insurgency.
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