BY NEWS DESK, FEBRUARY 04, 2026 | 06:52 PM
Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, OPHK, have recorded a major breakthrough after uncovering and destroying notorious detention facilities operated by Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorists deep inside the Timbuktu Triangle forest in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The development was disclosed in a press release signed by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
According to the military, the successful operation followed a carefully coordinated offensive conducted over the last two weeks, leading to the capture and destruction of the detention camps located in areas long considered inaccessible to security forces.
The feat, the army said, underscores the growing effectiveness and sustainability of ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North East.
The operation was carried out under Operation DESERT SANITY V, after sustained intelligence-led manoeuvres and offensive pressure forced ISWAP fighters to abandon key facilities within their strongholds.
Military authorities said the exposure and demolition of the camps clearly showed that OPHK troops have pushed deep into the terrorists’ inner sanctuaries, denying them both physical space and psychological advantage.
Between January 21, 2026 and date, troops uncovered and destroyed three major ISWAP detention facilities concealed within the dense Timbuktu Triangle forest, which stretches across parts of Borno and Yobe states.
Preliminary assessments revealed that the camps had the capacity to hold up to 300 detainees, underscoring their strategic importance to the terrorists’ operational and coercive network.
The military further disclosed that sustained offensive actions by troops directly led to the escape of more than 70 captives previously held by ISWAP.
Many of the escapees were said to have resurfaced in communities including Goniri, Buratai and Mandaragirau.
One of the escapees, Jidda Ba Jidda, a native of Kufi village near Buratai in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, reportedly said he escaped during a gun duel between the terrorists and advancing troops. He was abducted on December 22, 2025.
During the series of encounters in the Timbuktu Triangle, ISWAP reportedly suffered heavy losses, with no fewer than 32 fighters neutralised, including two Qaids and three Munzirs, while several others sustained serious injuries.
After a thorough clearance of the area, the three detention facilities were deliberately demolished to permanently deny ISWAP the opportunity to reuse or reoccupy the sites.
The military said the operation was executed successfully without incident, reflecting the resilience, professionalism and combat effectiveness of OPHK troops.
The army noted that the destruction of the detention camps goes beyond a tactical victory, as it weakens ISWAP’s internal enforcement system, disrupts its ability to detain civilians and collect ransom, and further restricts the group’s freedom of action.
It added that the escape of a large number of detainees also deprives the terrorists of a major funding tool and could provide valuable intelligence to support ongoing operations.
While noting that the general security situation across the theatre remains calm but unpredictable, the military said troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remain high, stressing that the Armed Forces are committed to sustaining pressure on terrorist elements, denying them safe havens, and restoring lasting peace and security across the North East.
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