Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have uncovered and dismantled three major detention facilities run by the Islamic State West Africa Province deep inside the Timbuktu Triangle of the Sambisa Forest, an area covering parts of Borno and Yobe States.
The operation was conducted during sustained offensive actions against terrorist enclaves in the area and reportedly inflicted significant losses on ISWAP fighters.
Five senior commanders, identified as two Qaids and three Munzirs, were killed alongside 27 other terrorists during fierce engagements with advancing troops.
Several other terrorists were said to have sustained serious injuries in the course of the operation.
In a statement, the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, said preliminary findings indicated that the destroyed detention centres had the capacity to hold up to 300 captives, highlighting their strategic importance to ISWAP’s operations and internal control system.
He explained that sustained military pressure forced the terrorists to abandon the facilities, resulting in the escape of more than 70 detainees.
Many of the freed captives later emerged in nearby communities, including Goniri, Buratai and Mandaragirau.
“One of the escapees, Malam Jidda Ba Jidda, a native of Kufi village near Buratai in Biu Local Government Area, who was abducted on 22 December 2025, revealed that he fled during a gun battle between ISWAP fighters and advancing troops in the Timbuktu Triangle,” Colonel Uba said.
After clearing the area, troops deliberately demolished the three detention facilities to prevent the terrorists from reoccupying or reusing them.
The operation, according to the military, was carried out without any casualties among the troops, reflecting their resilience, professionalism and combat efficiency.
Uba said the destruction of the detention camps goes beyond a tactical gain.
He noted that it has severely weakened ISWAP’s internal enforcement mechanism, disrupted its capacity to detain civilians for ransom, and further restricted its operational freedom.
He added that the mass escape of detainees has deprived the group of a major funding source, while also creating opportunities for intelligence gathering to support ongoing military operations.
The OPHK spokesman described the development as a significant breakthrough into areas previously regarded as inaccessible to security forces, pointing to improved effectiveness and sustainability of counter-insurgency efforts in the North-east.
He explained that the operation was carried out under Operation Desert Sanity V, following intelligence-driven manoeuvres and sustained offensive pressure that compelled terrorist elements to abandon key infrastructure within their strongholds.
“The exposure and destruction of these facilities clearly demonstrate that troops of Operation Hadin Kai have penetrated deep into ISWAP’s inner sanctuaries, denying the group both physical space and psychological advantage,” he said.
Uba noted that while the overall security situation across the theatre remains calm but unpredictable, the morale and fighting capability of the troops remain high.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups, denying them safe havens, and restoring lasting peace and security across the North-east.
