Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have killed six terrorists and recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition after repelling a coordinated attack on a Forward Operating Base in Garaha, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, in a fierce encounter that underscored the persistent threat posed by insurgents in the North-East.
The attack occurred at approximately 9:07 p.m. on Monday, October 12, 2026, when suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters advanced on foot from the LAR axis in an attempt to overrun the military position. According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the troops of Sector 4 responded with superior firepower and tactical coordination, decisively repelling the assault and forcing the terrorists to retreat.
Subsequent exploitation of the area led to the discovery of six terrorist corpses, confirming the neutralisation of six insurgents. The troops recovered one PKT machine gun with three ammunition belts containing 67 rounds, six AK-47 rifles, 11 AK-47 magazines, 157 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and one 60mm mortar bomb. Other items recovered included an Infinix Android phone, a Canon portable video recorder, three camelback water bags, one magazine carrier, and assorted clothing.
The military acknowledged that troops sustained casualties during the encounter. Wounded personnel were receiving medical attention, while evacuation arrangements were ongoing. Goni said troops had maintained heightened vigilance and continued operations in the surrounding area to prevent further attacks and recover additional items of operational significance.
The chairman of Hong Local Government Area, Dr Aliyu Yerima Sa'ad Hong, confirmed the incident, saying the insurgents attempted to attack a telecommunications mast hosting military surveillance cameras between 8:30 p.m. and 11:50 p.m. He said the combined efforts of security personnel and local hunters prevented the attackers from reaching their target. He disclosed that four of the insurgents' corpses were recovered at the scene, while some were evacuated by the attackers. Two military personnel sustained gunshot wounds. No civilian was killed in Garaha during the attack, although two shops were burnt. However, the chairman disclosed that the insurgents killed a civilian and burnt houses in Lar village while retreating from Garaha.
The successful repulsion of the attack underscores the combat readiness, resilience and determination of Operation HADIN KAI troops to defend their positions, frustrate terrorist offensives and progressively degrade insurgent capabilities across the North-East. The Theatre Command remains resolute in sustaining aggressive, intelligence-driven operations to deny terrorists freedom of action, protect vulnerable communities and consolidate ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace and security across the region.
The attack on Garaha is the latest in a series of incidents targeting military positions and communities in Adamawa State. On September 30 and October 1, 2026, troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralised 16 terrorists during a coordinated ambush on a terrorist enclave in the Boima general area of Gombi Local Government Area, while also repelling coordinated attacks on military positions at 226 Battalion in Garkida and 232 Battalion in Garaha. Three soldiers were killed during those engagements. The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI also conducted a precision air strike on October 1 after an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance platform detected about 16 terrorists alongside 15 motorcycles under a tree canopy in Sector 4.
Garaha, the birthplace of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, is situated in the mountainous part of Hong Local Government Area. The community's proximity to the Sambisa Forest in neighbouring Borno State has often been cited as a security concern. The town was also attacked on October 1, 2026.
The political context of the operations is significant. The 2027 general elections are less than four months away, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, and the governorship and state assembly elections for February 6. Security has emerged as one of the central issues in the campaign, alongside the cost of living and the economy. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seeking a second term on the All Progressives Congress platform, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, former Anambra Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement are among the major challengers.
The Federal Government has consistently pointed to the expansion of military formations and the operational successes of security agencies as evidence of its commitment to addressing insecurity. The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has expanded the Army from eight to twelve divisions and increased troop welfare, measures the government says are strengthening the military's capacity to respond to threats. Critics, however, argue that attacks on military bases and communities continue with alarming frequency, and that the security situation in the North-East remains far from resolved.
For the people of Garaha and the surrounding communities, the attack is a terrifying reminder of the proximity of the insurgent threat. For the military, the successful defence of the Forward Operating Base is a validation of the reinforcement strategy and inter-agency coordination that underpins Operation HADIN KAI. For the government, the outcome is a measure of success in a broader conflict that will be judged not by individual battles but by whether communities can live without the fear that has become a daily reality in the North-East. As the operation continues and the investigation into the attack proceeds, the coming weeks will determine whether the momentum generated by the defence of the Garaha base can be sustained and whether the insurgents' capacity to launch coordinated attacks can be permanently degraded.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments