By Miriam Humbe
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have recorded major operational successes under Operation DESERT SANITY/VIGILANT SIEGE, including the recovery of arms and ammunitions.
Lt Col Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI disclosed this in a statement.
In a related development, troops thwarted a potential terrorist attack following the discovery of an improvised explosive device (IED) planted along a route behind the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp near a military location at Ladari.
The device, believed to have been emplaced to target reinforcement teams and military vehicles, was safely detonated in-situ by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialists without incident. No casualties were recorded.
Further consolidating operational gains, troops conducting strangulation operations along the Ladari riverbanks uncovered an abandoned cache of arms and ammunition.
Items recovered include one Browning pistol, one locally fabricated pistol, 26 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and seven cartridges.
Additionally, troops of Sector 3, in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) operatives, arrested a suspected terrorist identified as Umar Zacharria (15) in Gubio town.
Preliminary investigations indicate the suspect’s involvement in terrorist activities along the Kareto axis, where motorists have been targeted.
The suspect is currently in custody for further investigation.
These coordinated operations underscore the sustained pressure being mounted on the terrorists, to deny them any freedom of action across the theatre of OPHK.
The Joint Task Force reassures the public of its unwavering commitment to sustaining ongoing offensives aimed at dismantling terrorist networks, neutralising threats, and restoring lasting peace, security and economic stability across the North East region.
The Military High Command commends the troops for their utmost professionalism, resilience, and dedication, urging them to sustain the current operational momentum in the security, peace and economic interest of the North East region and Nigeria as a whole.
