By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Nigerian troops under the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism, destroying three notorious ISWAP detention facilities hidden deep within the Timbuktu Triangle forest and forcing the escape of more than 70 captives.
The operation, conducted over the last two weeks as part of Operation DESERT SANITY V, marks one of the deepest penetrations by security forces into areas long regarded as ISWAP’s inner sanctuaries, stretching across parts of Borno and Yobe States.
Military sources confirmed that the detention camps, located in the forested Timbuktu Triangle in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, were capable of holding up to 300 detainees, underscoring their importance to the terrorists’ operations, coercion tactics, and ransom economy.
Sustained offensive pressure and intelligence-led manoeuvres forced ISWAP fighters to abandon the facilities during fierce engagements with advancing troops. In the process, over 70 captives managed to escape, later resurfacing in communities such as Goniri, Buratai, and Mandaragirau.
One of the escapees, Malam Jidda Ba Jidda, a farmer from Kufi village near Buratai in Biu Local Government Area, recounted how he fled during a gun battle between the terrorists and troops. He had been abducted by ISWAP on 22 December 2025.
“I escaped when the shooting became intense,” he said, describing the chaos that followed the troops’ advance into the forest.
During the encounters, ISWAP suffered heavy losses. Military authorities disclosed that at least 32 terrorists were neutralised, including two senior Qaids and three Munzirs, while several others sustained serious injuries.
After thoroughly clearing the area, troops demolished all three detention facilities, permanently denying the terrorists the opportunity to return or reuse the sites.
Security analysts say the destruction of the camps goes beyond a battlefield victory. By dismantling ISWAP’s detention infrastructure, the military has disrupted a key pillar of the group’s control over local populations and a major source of ransom funding. The escapees are also expected to provide valuable intelligence that could aid further operations.
While the overall security situation in the North East remains calm but unpredictable, military authorities report that troops’ morale and combat efficiency remain high.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups, denying them safe havens, and restoring lasting peace and security across the region.
