In what is described as a renewed fight under Desert Sanity V, troops of the Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai have eliminated two senior Boko Haram commanders, Basulhu and Ubaida, alongside eight other fighters during coordinated operations in the Sambisa Forest and Mandara Mountains.
The Theatre Command’s Media Information Officer, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, disclosed this in a statement, noting that the operation was carried out in the early hours of Thursday after insurgents attempted to plant Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the area.
“Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) operating under Operation DESERT SANITY V delivered a decisive blow to BH/ISWAP terrorists along the Sambisa and Mandara Mountains axis on 22 January 2026. At around 0930 hours, insurgents attempted a well-planned ambush with Roadside Improvised Explosive Devices (RSIED) and heavy gunfire.
“Troops under Sector 1 responded with superior firepower, neutralizing 10 terrorists, including 2 senior commanders identified as Basulhu and Ubaida.
“Follow-up pursuit and exploitation led to the recovery of 3 AK-47 rifles, one pump-action rifle, 5 motorcycles, 2 hand grenades, 2 Baofeng radios, 12 x AK-47 magazines, a Rocket Propelled Grenade charger, detonation cords, batteries, bandoliers, camel bags as well as iron bars and IED accessories,” the statement said.
Lt. Col. Uba added that additional items recovered during the operation included three AK-47 rifles, one pump-action rifle, five motorcycles, 12 AK-47 magazines and a rocket-propelled grenade charger.
In a related operation, troops of Sector 1 also engaged terrorists around the Malkube area on a separate axis, recovering more AK-47 rifles, ammunition and communication equipment, while neutralising two insurgents without any casualties to personnel.
“Another Battle Group from Sector 1 engaged BHT/ISWAP elements attempting to infiltrate from Cameroon near Galakura into Nigeria, forcing them to withdraw in disarray,” the statement added.
The military said further exploitation of the area led to the recovery of additional insurgent logistics, including two motorcycles, thereby restricting the terrorists’ operational movement and denying them freedom of action.