Troops Foil Terrorist Attack In North-East, Neutralise 5 Insurgents, Rescue 3 Abducted Children

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have thwarted a terrorist attack, neutralised five suspected insurgents, and rescued three abducted children in separate operations across Borno and Yobe States.

The military disclosed that the operations were conducted between February 20 and 21, 2026, as part of sustained offensive and stabilisation efforts in the North-East theatre.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Media Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, troops of Sector 1 made contact with suspected Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters during a fighting patrol around Sabsawa village in Borno State.

According to him, the troops engaged the insurgents with “overwhelming firepower,” forcing them to retreat.
“During exploitation, five terrorists were neutralised,” he stated.

In a separate operation, troops deployed at Ngurosoye rescued three abducted children — Abba Abba (12), Fatima Abba (8), and Aisha Abba (6) — during a perimeter patrol in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the children were abducted about two months ago along the Gubio axis by suspected terrorists before being moved to Bula-Daloye.

The statement added that the rescued children had been handed over to the Nigeria Police for further necessary action.

Meanwhile, an 18-year-old suspected terrorist, identified as Abubakar Abubakar, surrendered to troops at Geidam in Yobe State. He is currently in custody undergoing profiling.

The military said troops across other sectors maintained an aggressive posture, conducting coordinated offensive operations in collaboration with hybrid forces, vigilantes, and hunters to deny terrorists freedom of action.

“All operations were largely hitch-free, while ongoing exploitation and monitoring continue across the theatre,” the statement said.

The military high command commended the troops for their sustained morale and fighting efficiency, assuring that pressure on terrorist elements would be maintained until lasting peace and economic stability are achieved in the North-East.