Troops of the Joint Task Force North East under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have uncovered and dismantled three major detention facilities operated by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Timbuktu Triangle of the Sambisa Forest, spanning parts of Borno and Yobe states.
The operation, conducted during sustained offensive actions in the terrorists’ enclave, resulted in heavy losses for ISWAP, with five senior commanders—identified as two Qaids and three Munzirs—killed alongside 27 other fighters during intense engagements with advancing troops. Several other terrorists were reported to have sustained severe injuries.
In a statement, the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, said preliminary assessments showed that the dismantled detention centres had the capacity to hold up to 300 captives, underscoring their strategic importance to ISWAP’s operational and coercive structure.
According to him, sustained pressure from troops forced the terrorists to abandon the facilities, leading to the escape of more than 70 detainees. Many of the freed captives later resurfaced in surrounding communities, including Goniri, Buratai and Mandaragirau.
Uba disclosed that one of the escapees, Malam Jidda Ba Jidda, a native of Kufi village near Buratai in Biu Local Government Area who was abducted on December 22, 2025, said he escaped during a gun battle between ISWAP fighters and advancing troops in the Timbuktu Triangle.
Following the clearance of the area, troops deliberately demolished the three detention facilities to permanently deny the terrorists the opportunity to reuse or reoccupy them. The operation was carried out without any casualties recorded among the troops.
Uba said the destruction of the detention camps significantly weakens ISWAP’s internal enforcement system, disrupts its ability to detain civilians for ransom, and constrains its freedom of action. He added that the mass escape of detainees deprives the group of a major source of funding while potentially providing valuable intelligence to support ongoing military operations.
The spokesman described the development as a major breakthrough into areas previously considered beyond the reach of security forces, highlighting the growing effectiveness of counter-insurgency efforts in the North East.
He explained that the operation was conducted under Operation Desert Sanity V, following intelligence-led manoeuvres and sustained offensive pressure that compelled terrorist elements to abandon critical infrastructure within their strongholds.
Uba assured that troops’ morale remains high as clearance operations continue across the Sambisa Forest and other terrorist enclaves, reaffirming the Armed Forces’ commitment to restoring lasting peace and security in the region.
Linus Aleke in Abuja
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