The Nigerian Army’s Intervention Battalion under the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), has recorded significant operational successes in the ongoing Operation Desert Sanity clearance campaign, destroying multiple terrorist camps, recovering arms and equipment, and repelling coordinated insurgent attacks in northern Borno State.
Security sources told Akelicious that the latest phase of the operation covered vast and difficult terrain across known insurgent hideouts in the Chiralia, Garin Faruk and Abima axis, following the troops’ departure from a harbour area in the early hours of January 18.
During the advance, troops methodically cleared several locations and camps bearing signs of recent human activity. Many of the camps had been hastily abandoned before the soldiers’ arrival, suggesting sustained intelligence-led pressure on terrorist elements operating in the area.
At about 12:40 p.m., the advancing troops came under a rare and concerning attack from a terrorist-operated armed drone. Three soldiers sustained injuries in the strike but were reported to be in stable condition and are currently receiving medical care.
Despite the drone attack, troops maintained operational momentum and continued the clearance operation.
Items recovered during the exercise included a Baofeng radio set, a small button phone, five empty AK-47 magazines, 63 rounds of 7.62×39mm special ammunition, 71 rounds of 7.62mm NATO belted ammunition, empty 12.7×108mm links, several Boko Haram/ISWAP flags, and an unquantified quantity of medical supplies.
Later in the day, as troops established a new harbour area, terrorists launched a ground assault at about 7:10 p.m. The attack, which lasted approximately 25 minutes, was decisively repelled by the soldiers, who maintained full control of the situation. The area remained firmly under military dominance.
Military authorities said the operation is aimed not only at dislodging terrorist groups but also at permanently denying them operational space, through sustained air-ground synergy, aggressive patrols and intelligence-driven strikes.
