In a decisive overnight operation deep within Borno State, troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) under Operation Hadin Kai have neutralized a senior Boko Haram commander, Abu Khalid, alongside ten other insurgents, in what military officials describe as a significant setback for terrorist operations in the Sambisa Forest.
Abu Khalid, identified as the second-in-command of Boko Haram in the Sambisa axis, was a central figure in coordinating logistics and attacks across the region. His elimination comes barely a day after troops took out another high-profile commander, Julaibib, during an offensive in the Gujba corridor of the notorious Timbuktu Triangle.
The latest encounter occurred around 11:00 p.m. in the Komala general area of Konduga Local Government Area, where troops of Sector 1, working in close coordination with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) under Operation Desert Sanity, made contact with fleeing insurgents during a night clearance operation.
Military sources confirmed that the terrorists were overwhelmed following a fierce exchange, resulting in multiple neutralizations without any casualties recorded among government forces.
Items recovered at the scene included five AK-47 rifles, ammunition magazines, bicycles believed to be used for mobility within forested terrain, assorted food supplies and large quantities of medical materials suspected to support insurgent camps.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its’ resolve to sustain the current momentum of operations across key flashpoints including the Sambisa Forest, Mandara Mountains and the Timbuktu Triangle, all considered strongholds of Boko Haram and ISWAP factions.
According to the military command, the objective remains the complete dismantling of terrorist networks in the North East to restore lasting peace, security and economic stability to affected communities.
Senior military leadership commended the troops for their professionalism and resilience, urging them to maintain pressure on insurgent elements as clearance operations continue across the region.
The latest successes underscore an intensifying campaign by Nigerian forces to decapitate militant leadership structures, a strategy officials believe is critical to weakening the operational capacity of extremist groups entrenched in the North East.
