Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation HADIN KAI have recorded significant operational successes in renewed military offensives across the Timbuktu Triangle, even as both troops and terrorist elements suffered casualties during fierce encounters.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Media Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, said troops sustained their advance into key terrorist strongholds, including Tergejeri, Chiralia, and the Ajigin/Abirma general areas, where they cleared and dominated several locations previously occupied by insurgents.
According to the statement, troops made intermittent contact with fleeing terrorists and engaged them with heavy volumes of fire, resulting in the neutralisation of several insurgents and the further degradation of terrorist networks operating within the area.
Lt. Col. Sani Uba disclosed that on 20 January 2026, while consolidating at a harbour area about six kilometres north of Chilaria, troops encountered two Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs).
He said one of the VBIEDs was successfully neutralised, while the second breached the defensive position, affecting some logistics platforms.
He added that the attack led to the loss of some gallant soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, while others sustained injuries.
The wounded, he noted, were promptly evacuated by Nigerian Army Aviation helicopters to the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital, with the Nigerian Air Force, in synergy with other Army air platforms, providing continuous overwatch to ensure the safety of ground forces and the neutralization of additional terrorists.
The army spokesman further revealed that troops later discovered mass graves containing an estimated 20 terrorist bodies, killed during previous encounters in the Timbuktu Triangle and buried by their associates, an indication of the heavy casualties suffered by the terrorists.
Lt. Col. Sani Uba said the security situation across the North East theatre remains generally stable, with troops’ morale and fighting efficiency still high, as operations continue with sustained pressure on fleeing insurgents.
He reaffirmed the commitment of troops of Operation HADIN KAI to protect civilians, dismantle terrorist networks, and restore lasting peace and security across the region.
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