Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have
delivered a series of devastating precision strikes across the North East in
March 2026, eliminating over 60 terrorists in a single airstrike in Sambisa
Forest and neutralising a high-value target identified as Abu Yusu, popularly
known as Munzir of Dursula, during a complex multi-directional attack at Goniri
in Yobe State.
Major General Michael Onoja, Director of
Defence Media Operations, who disclosed these developments during a media
briefing at Defence Headquarters on 31 March 2026, said the operations reflect
the effectiveness of the AFN's combined-arms approach in targeting both the
organisational capacity and the operational leadership of insurgent formations
in the North East.
On 2 March 2026, troops conducted a precision
airstrike in Sambisa Forest that neutralised top terrorist ring leaders
including Saddam, Saleh Garin Kago, and Ba Alayi Benbem, along with over 18
ring leaders and 42 fighters. The strike was described as one of the most
operationally significant single-action neutralisations in the theatre within
the quarter.
“The repulsion of a complex drone attack at Mallam Fatori
yielded 74 terrorist corpses, including senior leaders, and the recovery of 38
AK-47 rifles and 3 PKT machine guns.”
On 11 March 2026, troops neutralised over
20 terrorists including the high-value target Abu Yusu, known as Munzir of
Dursula, at Goniri, Yobe State, during a multi-directional ISWAP night attack.
The repulsion of a coordinated drone attack at Mallam Fatori, Abadam LGA, yielded
74 terrorist corpses including senior leaders, along with 38 AK-47 rifles, 3
PKT machine guns, one RPG tube, and assorted ammunition. A recovery that
underscores the firepower being systematically stripped from insurgent
formations.
Major General Onoja also reported that
fourteen insurgents surrendered during March, raising the cumulative total of
insurgents who have laid down arms and surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN
KAI to 122,843. A figure that speaks to the growing psychological pressure the
military campaign is placing on rank-and-file terrorists in the theatre.
Beyond kinetic engagements, troops
continued to interdict terrorist logistics supply chains. On 28 March 2026,
soldiers repelled an attack at Mandaraugirau, Biu LGA of Borno State,
neutralised four terrorists, and recovered five AK-47 rifles, eight magazines,
two RPG bombs, and assorted ammunition. Troops also foiled an attempted
infiltration of an IDP camp at Damasak and arrested a terrorist logistics
supplier at Muna Garage, Maiduguri, who had been engaged in procuring and
supplying motorcycle spare parts and sundry items to insurgents over an
extended period.