Troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised 18 Boko Haram terrorists in coordinated operations across the Timbuktu–Bulabulin axis of Sambisa Forest, spanning Borno and Yobe states.

The military said the insurgents were killed by troops of Sector 2 during engagements at Azir Bridge and in the Bulabulin forest areas along the 85-kilometre Damboa–Biu road.

In a statement, the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Sani Uba, said the operations, conducted under Operation Desert Sanity V, recorded significant gains through coordinated ground and air assaults.

“The gallant troops recorded significant operational gains in two separate but coordinated engagements in the Azir Bridge (Timbuktu axis) and Bulabulin Forest areas,” he said, noting close coordination with the Air Component Command of OPHK.

Uba added that troops, alongside elements of the Stabilisation Force and the Civilian Joint Task Force, cleared terrorist enclaves in Mar, Subdu, Yaro Lawanti and Yaro Shuwari, as well as adjoining areas within the Bulabulin Forest and the Kumadugu River Basin.

He said troops made contact with insurgents at Malam Shiri village, where a tactical flanking manoeuvre led to the killing of 11 fighters, forcing others to flee with gunshot wounds. He added that the troops destroyed life-support structures and recovered nine AK-47 rifles, three PKT anti-aircraft machine guns, five motorcycles, assorted ammunition and materials used for improvised explosive devices.

In a separate operation along the Wajiroko–Sabongari corridor in the Timbuktu axis, troops again engaged the terrorists with air support, killing seven more fighters.

Uba said subsequent exploitation revealed additional casualties, indicated by blood trails and body parts, suggesting higher losses among the insurgents. Items recovered included AK-47 rifles, RPG tubes, large quantities of ammunition, bandoliers and communication equipment.

He said the Air Component of OPHK provided intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, enabling precise targeting and real-time coordination for ground forces. Precision air strikes were also carried out on identified terrorist positions and fleeing fighters, further degrading their capability.

According to him, troops, supported by volunteer forces, are continuing follow-up operations along the Forfor, Multe and Wajiroko axes to consolidate gains and prevent regrouping by fleeing insurgents.

The military high command commended the troops for their performance, describing the operations as a demonstration of sustained operational effectiveness in the theatre.