End of the Road for Terrorists on Extortion Mission as Troops Foil Plot, Recover Weapons in Yobe

Troops of Sector 2, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have foiled a terrorist mission aimed at extorting innocent civilians in Yobe State, dealing another blow to Boko Haram/ISWAP networks and denying them access to illicit sources of funding.

Acting on credible intelligence regarding the movement of two Volkswagen Golf vehicles and motorcycles conveying suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists to collect illegal levies from local communities, troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bukarti, in conjunction with the 27 Task Force Brigade, launched an aggressive fighting patrol along the Paya Kafiya axis on July 19, 2026.

According to the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the troops made contact with the terrorists and immediately engaged them with overwhelming firepower.

During the ensuing firefight, one of the Volkswagen Golf vehicles was successfully engaged and immobilised, while its driver was neutralised. Four other terrorists abandoned the vehicle and fled into the surrounding bush with suspected gunshot wounds after failing to withstand the troops’ superior combat power.

Captain Goni said follow-up exploitation operations conducted on July 20, 2026, along the Paya Kafiya–Garin Gada axis led to the recovery of the abandoned Volkswagen Golf vehicle, 25 rounds of belted PKT ammunition, one loaded AK-47 magazine, 15 empty PKT ammunition cases, assorted drugs, including paracetamol and nicotine products, as well as mechanical tools believed to have supported the terrorists’ logistics and sustainment activities.

He noted that the successful operation highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations and the sustained offensive posture of Operation HADIN KAI in disrupting terrorist logistics, dismantling illicit revenue networks, and denying terrorists freedom of action across the North-East theatre.

The military reaffirmed that Operation HADIN KAI remains committed to sustaining relentless pressure on terrorist elements through intelligence-driven offensive operations, in collaboration with other security agencies and with the continued support of law-abiding citizens, until terrorism is decisively defeated and lasting peace, security and stability are restored across the region.