Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI have successfully foiled coordinated terrorist assaults in Limankara and Kukawa areas of Borno State.
The development was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the Media Information Officer of the Theatre Command, Lt. Col. Sani Uba.
According to him, “Troops of Sector 2 under Operation DESERT SANITY V, acting on weeks of intelligence backed by satellite imagery and ISR air platforms, conducted a precision operation in the early hours of 22 February 2026 around Lamusheri Village in Gujba LGA, identified as a key terrorist attack launch pad and logistics hub.
“During the ensuing firefight and exploitation, 15 terrorists were neutralised while scores fled with gunshot wounds,” Uba said.
He added that several defensive and support structures used by the insurgents were destroyed. Five terrorist tricycles and two vehicles reportedly used for logistics and attacks were set ablaze, while arms, ammunition, bandoliers, and camel pouches were recovered.
Uba further revealed that terrorists also attempted to breach the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Limankara. However, troops responded swiftly, engaging them in a fierce exchange of fire. Reinforcements, supported by air power from the Nigerian Air Force, overpowered the attackers, forcing them to retreat through the burial ground axis.
“In a related incident at about 2320 hours, terrorists mounted on gun trucks and motorcycles, with additional fighters on foot, launched a coordinated multi-pronged attack on troops in Kukawa from the Alagarno and Jemmu axes.
“The troops engaged the attackers in an intense firefight that extended into the early hours of 21 February 2026. Overpowered by superior fire and coordinated resistance from the ground troops and air support from the Nigerian Air Force, the terrorists withdrew, dragging away casualties,” he said.
He noted that aerial platforms carried out targeted strikes, destroying one terrorist gun truck and “pulverising four fighters in the gun truck”. Surveillance later tracked fleeing insurgents on five motorcycles to a meeting point, where another strike destroyed the motorcycles and eliminated 10 more fighters.
“Following the strikes, troops conducted an operation and recovered thirteen(13) AK-47 rifles, sixteen (16) AK-47 loaded magazines, three(3) handheld radios which the insurgents used for communication, terrorists’ stretchers used to convey their casualties, as well as shallow graves and blood trails left by the terrorists,” he added.
Uba disclosed that “regrettably, one gallant soldier paid the supreme price, and some combat enablers were destroyed by rocket fire during the engagements.
“The wounded in action personnel were promptly evacuated by the Nigerian Army Aviation helicopters and are all in stable condition.”