The Defence Headquarters said troops neutralised scores of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) factions terrorists last week.
Troops also arrested 20 terrorists suspect collaborators and facilitated the surrender of 11 insurgents along with their families , just as they rescued 24 kidnapped victims.
Director of Defence Media Operation, Major General Michael Onoja who disclosed this in a statement on the Operation of Nigerian Armed Forces between February 28 and March 6, 2026 stated that the Air wing of Operation HADIN KAI in the North East Zone of the country recorded a major achievement.
“In a major development, the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI engaged terrorist structures in Sambisa Forest.”
He said that Battle Damage Assessment confirmed the neutralization of top terrorist ring leaders Saddam, Saleh Garin Kago and Ba Alayi Benbem (all senior figures), along with fighter Hussaini Ubaida.”
He said that efforts are on to verify additional casualties, adding that “corroborating reports from Human Sources indicate that the precision strike on 2 March 2026 neutralized over 18 terrorist ring leaders and 42 fighters, underscoring the effectiveness of joint air-ground integration in targeting high-value leadership.”
Major General Onoja stated that within the week troops intensified kinetic and non-kinetic operations and delivered significant blows to terrorist groups, kidnappers, oil thieves, and separatist elements.
The sustained efforts, he said , “underscore the AFN’s resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy, economic stability, and the well-being of its people in the face of evolving security threats.”
The Director disclosed that
“key highlights (in the North East) include the arrest on 28 February 2026 of two suspected terrorist collaborators in Biu LGA of Borno State.”
The suspects confessed to facilitating the sale of rustled cattle, purchasing fuel, and providing other logistics for terrorists.
“Under troops guidance, they led forces to uncover a hidden storage room containing terrorist medical supplies. However, the storekeeper fled prior to arrival of troops. Both suspects and recovered items are in custody.”
In a separate operation, a suspected kidnapper was arrested in Ajiwango Village, Geidam LGA of Yobe State. The suspect admitted membership in a five-man syndicate responsible for kidnapping five victims and collecting a N3,000,000 ransom.
The suspect is in custody while operations continue to search and to apprehend the remaining members.
He said that on the same day, 28 February 2026, troops conducting offensive operations in Bama LGA of Borno State successfully repelled a terrorist attack. In the ensuing gun battle, scores of terrorists were neutralized, and sophisticated arms along with a cache of ammunition were recovered.
Similarly, on 1 March 2026, troops in Nganzai LGA of Borno State engaged terrorists deploying armed drones at troops location. The encounter resulted in terrorist casualties and the recovery of arms, ammunition, anti-tank bombs, locally made mortar bombs, armed drones, and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) manufacturing materials, he said.