By Bavoriat Clara
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have recorded significant operational gains in the Timbuktu Triangle, intensifying pressure on terrorist elements and further degrading their networks across the North East theatre of operations.
In a statement issued by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force, North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, said troops sustained their advance into the Timbuktu Triangle, successfully clearing and dominating key terrorist enclaves, including Tergejeri, Chiralia, and the Ajigin/Abirma general areas.
He disclosed that during the operations, troops made intermittent contact with fleeing terrorists and engaged them with heavy firepower, resulting in the neutralisation of several insurgents.
According to the statement, on 20 January 2026, while consolidating at a harbour area about six kilometres north of Chilaria, troops encountered two Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs). One of the VBIEDs was successfully neutralised through prompt and coordinated action, while the second breached the defensive position, affecting some logistics platforms. The incident led to the loss of some soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Lieutenant Colonel Uba noted that the wounded were immediately evacuated by Nigerian Army Aviation helicopters to the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital. He added that Nigerian Air Force platforms from the Air Component, working in synergy with other Nigerian Army air assets, provided continuous aerial overwatch to ensure the safe evacuation of casualties and the protection of ground troops, while additional terrorists were neutralised in the process.
He further revealed that troops later discovered mass graves containing about 20 terrorist bodies, believed to have been killed during encounters with troops in the Timbuktu Triangle and buried by their collaborators. The discovery, he said, underscores the heavy casualties suffered by the terrorists and exposes the falsehood of their propaganda claims.
The statement added that the overall security situation across the theatre remains generally stable, with troops maintaining high morale and fighting efficiency. Operation HADIN KAI, it stressed, remains committed to sustaining pressure on fleeing terrorist elements, protecting civilians, dismantling terrorist networks, and restoring lasting peace and security in the North East.
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