Troops Neutralize Terrorists, Rescue Hostages in Borno New Year Offensive

A specialized unit of the Nigerian military has successfully repelled a terrorist incursion in the Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, neutralizing five insurgents in a high-stakes gun battle. The operation, which unfolded in the early hours of Sunday, January 4, 2026, took place along the notorious Sojiri axis, a known tactical crossing point for remnants of extremist groups operating within the region.

The victory was announced by the Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba. According to the official statement, the mission was a result of intelligence-led collaboration between the regular army and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). The synergy between the military and local vigilantes proved decisive, allowing the troops to catch the terrorists off-guard as they attempted to move through the Sojiri corridor.

Beyond the fatalities recorded among the insurgent ranks, the operation achieved a significant humanitarian milestone with the rescue of three civilians. The victims, who had been abducted in earlier raids on surrounding farming communities, were safely extracted from the battlefield. Military medics have since provided them with preliminary care, and they are expected to be reunited with their families after a brief debriefing process at the theatre headquarters.

The professionalism of the security forces was highlighted by the fact that the encounter concluded without a single casualty among the troops or their local partners. This tactical success has been attributed to the use of precision strikes and superior combat fire. Following the gunfight, a thorough sweep of the engagement zone led to the recovery of several AK-47 rifles, a cache of ammunition, and various logistical materials that the terrorists had been using to sustain their forest hideouts.

Lieutenant Colonel Uba emphasized that the morale of the troops remains exceptionally high as they enter the first week of the 2026 security calendar. He noted that the military continues to maintain total dominance over the operational environment, despite the evolving tactics of the insurgents. “Operation HADIN KAI remains resolute in its mandate to dismantle terrorist networks and restore lasting peace and stability in the North East,” the statement read, reinforcing the government’s commitment to an aggressive offensive strategy.

This latest success in Konduga comes on the heels of several major arrests made by the same command just 24 hours earlier. On Saturday, January 3, the military identified and apprehended Shariff Umar, the alleged mastermind behind a sophisticated suicide bombing network in the North East. The double blow to the insurgents’ leadership and their tactical units suggests a tightening of the security noose around the remaining pockets of resistance in Borno State.

As the joint security task force continues to comb the Sojiri axis for fleeing members of the gang, the public has been encouraged to remain vigilant. The military has consistently credited “timely information from law-abiding citizens” as a crucial tool in preventing attacks. With the rescue of the three hostages, the Alia administration in the state has once again signaled that the safety of civilians will remain at the heart of every kinetic operation.