Nigerian military forces have recovered a surveillance drone, weapons, and ammunition in Borno State during coordinated counter-terrorism operations targeting Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents. The operations, conducted under Operation Hadin Kai, spanned across Borno and Adamawa states.
According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, the encounter occurred around 11:30 a.m. on December 30 in the Pridang general area of Borno State. Troops deployed from Forward Operating Base Izge, working with volunteer forces, reportedly came into contact with an unknown number of insurgents on a surveillance mission. Sources said the militants intended to use an ultra-light drone to monitor troop movements and local communities.
The troops engaged the insurgents with superior firepower, forcing them to abandon the drone and flee. “These unmanned aerial vehicles were being used for reconnaissance and possibly for planning attacks. Their seizure will significantly degrade the terrorists’ operational capabilities,” a source said.
In Adamawa State, four suspected ISWAP informants—Chollu Alhaji, Malam Bako Abubakar, Naftali Gabriel, and Madaiba Joseph—were arrested on December 30 in Garaha and Kakara areas of Hong Local Government Area. They are alleged to have provided intelligence that enabled a deadly attack in Dubang village on December 29. The suspects are now in custody of the Theatre Prosecution Section as investigations continue.
Additional operations in Borno saw troops neutralize three insurgents in separate engagements. On December 29, soldiers of the 26 Task Force Brigade, alongside the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and local hunters, killed two fighters along Tokumbere and Lagara axes and recovered an AK-47 rifle with a loaded magazine. One insurgent was killed during an ambush at Ladantar in Bama LGA by the 151 Task Force Battalion.
Security forces also intercepted a 38-year-old man, Makinta Bukar, on December 28 at the Walada international border in Damasak, who was suspected of supplying Boko Haram/ISWAP with logistics, including phones, a power bank, solar panels, and food.
Under Operation Desert Sanity V, troops of the 21 Special Armoured Brigade, with volunteer forces, conducted clearance operations in Sambisa Forest on December 29–30. Multiple abandoned insurgent camps—including Dure, Century Wolf, Sabil Huda, Ukuba axis, Parisu, Somalia Camp, and Njimiya were cleared, and weapons, ammunition, and explosives were recovered and safely detonated.
Military sources credited the successes to joint efforts of troops, volunteer forces, and local hunters, emphasizing that community collaboration is critical to the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign.
