Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have killed a notorious Boko Haram/ISWAP commander during a series of coordinated operations across Borno State.
The Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force OPHK, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Maiduguri.
According to the statement, the terrorist leader was killed during an encounter around Kimba in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State on January 30, 2026.
Lt. Col. Uba said troops recorded major operational successes across the North-East, neutralising high-value terrorist targets, disrupting insurgent activities and foiling criminal operations through sustained, intelligence-driven actions.
“In a significant breakthrough, intelligence has confirmed the killing of JULAIBIB, a top ISWAP commander operating within the Gujba axis of the Timbuktu Triangle, during an encounter around Kimba, Damboa LGA of Borno State,” the statement said.
He added that the elimination of the commander has thrown ISWAP elements in the area into disarray, with several fighters reportedly neutralised during the operation. The development, he noted, represents a major blow to the command and control structure of ISWAP in the region.
In a related operation, troops of OPHK, working in collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), neutralised three terrorists during a well-coordinated ambush between Ngazalgana and Lamusheri communities in Borno State.
The operation followed credible intelligence on insurgent movements. Troops laid an ambush along the identified route and engaged the terrorists with effective firepower, resulting in the neutralisation of three insurgents, while others escaped with gunshot injuries. Two AK-47 rifles were recovered from the scene.
Further consolidating these gains, troops deployed in an ambush position at Tsokorok in Gwoza Local Government Area on January 29, 2026, came in contact with Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.
The troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to retreat. One terrorist was neutralised, with no casualties recorded on the side of the troops. Two motorcycles were also recovered from the scene.
