Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, have destroyed major ISWAP terrorist detention facilities deep inside the Timbuktu Triangle forest in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, marking a significant operational breakthrough.

A statement by the Media and Information Officer, Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba says the armed combat conducted under the Operation DESERT SANITY-V, followed sustained intelligence-led offensives that forced terrorists to abandon key facilities previously considered beyond the reach of security forces.

It adds that between 21 January 2026 to date, troops uncovered and demolished three detention camps across the Timbuktu Triangle which spans parts of Borno and Yobe states. Preliminary findings indicate the facilities could hold up to 300 detainees.

The statement maintains that sustained military pressure also led to the escape of more than 70 captives, many of whom later resurfaced in communities including Goniri, Buratai and Mandaragirau.

One of the escapees, Malam Jidda Ba Jidda, said he escaped during a gun battle between ISWAP fighters and advancing troops.

During the encounters, no fewer than 32 ISWAP fighters were neutralised, including two Qaids and three Munzirs, while several others sustained injuries.

After clearing the area, troops deliberately destroyed the facilities to prevent reuse, underscoring the professionalism and combat effectiveness of Operation HADIN KAI forces.

This successful operation has now degraded ISWAP’s ability to detain civilians, collect ransom and maintain control over local communities, while further shrinking the group’s operational space.

The military says it remains committed to sustaining pressure on terrorist elements and restoring lasting peace in the North East.