Troops of the Nigerian Army have thwarted terrorist attacks across multiple fronts and neutralised 29 ISWAP/Boko Haram fighters in Borno and Yobe State.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI disclosed this in a statement on 22 February 2026.
According to the statement, troops of Sector 2 under Operation DESERT SANITY V neutralised 15 terrorists and destroyed a suspected logistics base during a precision operation around Lamusheri Village in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe state.
The early morning operation in Gujba, on February 22, 2026 followed weeks of intelligence gathering supported by satellite imagery and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance air platforms, which identified the location as a terrorist attack launch point and logistics hub.
Troops, alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, came under fire while approaching the target but tactically outflanked the insurgents and cut off their escape routes.
During the ensuing firefight, 15 terrorists were neutralised, while several others escaped with suspected gunshot wounds.
In a related attack in Kukawa, Borno State, terrorists mounted on gun trucks, motorcycles, and on foot were repelled following heavy coordinated resistance and air support.
“Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have once again demonstrated clear combat superiority by decisively thwarted coordinated terrorist attacks in Limankara and Kukawa, Borno State,” the statement read.
“The failed assaults, launched on the night of 20 February 2026, clearly reflect the immense pressure being mounted on terrorist enclaves, logistics corridors, and leadership structures across the theatre.
“Through sustained offensive operations and targeted decapitation efforts, OPHK continues to deny terrorists freedom of action, forcing them into chaotic withdrawals under heavy losses.
“In expansion of the offensive pressure, troops of Sector 2 under Operation DESERT SANITY V, acting on weeks of intelligence backed by satellite imagery and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance( ISR) air platforms, conducted a precision operation in the early hours of 22 February 2026 around Lamusheri Village in Gujba LGA, identified as a key terrorist attack launch pad and logistics hub.
“Despite coming under fire on approach, troops, in synergy with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, outflanked the terrorists and cut off their withdrawal routes.
“During the ensuing firefight and exploitation, 15 terrorists were neutralised while scores fled with gunshot wounds.
“Extensive defensive and life-support structures were destroyed, five terrorist tricycles and two vehicles used for attacks and logistics were set ablaze with their contents, and a cache of arms, ammunition, bandoliers and carmel pouches recovered.
“Furthermore, in the same night, terrorists in unconfirmed numbers attempted to infiltrate the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Limankara. Alert troops immediately engaged the attackers in a fierce firefight, bringing disciplined firepower and tactical coordination to bear.
“Rapid reinforcement at the contact point with support from the Air Component Command overwhelmed the assailants, compelling them to flee in disarray through the burial ground axis.
“There were no casualties or equipment losses on the side of own troops while human intelligence confirmed several casualties on the part of the terrorists. The situation remains firmly under control.
“In a related incident , the same night, terrorists mounted on gun trucks and motorcycles, with additional fighters on foot, launched a coordinated multi-pronged attack on troops in Kukawa from the Alagarno and Jemmu axes.
“Anticipating such desperate attempts, troops mounted a determined defence, engaging the attackers in an intense firefight that extended into the early hours of 21 February 2026.
“Overpowered by superior fire and coordinated resistance from the ground troops and air support from the Air Component of OPHK, the terrorists withdrew dragging away casualties.
“The air platforms further conducted series of precision strikes, with one terrorist gun truck destroyed pulverizing four fighters in the gun truck.
“Persistent aerial surveillance subsequently tracked fleeing terrorists on five motorcycles to a convergence point, where another precision strike destroyed the five motorcycles and neutralised an additional 10 fighters.
“Following the strikes, troops conducted exploitation and recovered thirteen(13) AK-47 rifles, sixteen (16) AK-47 loaded magazines, three(3) handheld radios which the insurgents used for communication, terrorists stretchers used to convey their casualties, as well as shallow graves and blood trails left by the terrorists.
“Regrettably, one gallant soldier paid the supreme price, and some combat enablers were destroyed by rocket fire during the engagements.
“The wounded in action personnel were promptly evacuated by the Nigerian Army Aviation helicopters and are all in stable condition.
“These coordinated air and land operations significantly compounded enemy losses and reinforced OPHK’s operational dominance.
“The sustained and synchronised operations across multiple fronts underscore OPHK’s resolve to degrade terrorists combat capacity. The Military High Command commended the troops for their impressive battle performance and urged them to sustain the operational tempo.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered an illegal oil refinery allegedly operated by Chinese nationals in the Ogere area of Ogun State.
The commission said the facility was discovered on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 following intelligence and surveillance on the activities of illegal sludge oil refiners.
The EFCC disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
Oyewale said the facility was deserted when operatives stormed the premises, following an earlier crackdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area.
However, he said operatives discovered waste products from the refining process and underground tanks suspected to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.
The statement read, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission uncovered an illegal oil refinery operated by Chinese in the Ogere area of Ogun State.
“The operation, conducted on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, followed credible intelligence and surveillance by the commission on the activities of the illegal sludge oil refiners.
“The refinery was found deserted when EFCC operatives stormed the premises, following the commission’s earlier clampdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area. However, waste products from the refining process were discovered at the location.”
Oyewale said during the raid, underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing the sludge oil were also discovered.
“Two of the underground tanks inspected contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), otherwise known as diesel.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the operators sourced sludge oil, also known as black sludge, from Warri, Delta State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and transported it to the illegal facility in Ogere for processing,” Oyewale added.
He said the operators subjected the sludge oil to intense heat, allowing lighter petroleum components to pass through chambers and filters in a process believed to produce diesel for sale in the Nigerian market.
“Personnel at the facility told EFCC operatives that the Chinese operators never disclosed their identities nor the name of the company behind the facility.
“Consequently, operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC have since taken over the premises as investigations continue to establish the identities of the operators, the ownership of the facility and the full extent of the suspected illegal activities and economic sabotage,” he added.
An amateur boxer identified simply as Kehinde and popularly known as KBlaq has been stabbed to death during a street fight at Olodo Garage in Ibadan, Oyo State.
PUNCH Metro learnt on Monday that the incident occurred on Sunday, sparking outrage among social media users, who called for justice for the deceased.
According to accounts circulating online, the deceased was not initially involved in the fight, while the suspect allegedly appeared after the confrontation had ended and stabbed him in the neck with a broken bottle.
Kehinde, who was described by acquaintances as a boxer, reportedly succumbed to his injuries.
Several social media users expressed shock over the killing, with some claiming that the suspect was not among those involved in the initial fight.
An X user, @MVKAY2, wrote, “The person who stabbed him was not even involved in the fight, and they had stopped fighting already. Just one of those vile men wey the matter no concern came from nowhere and stabbed him.
“Before una start dropping different narratives, I wish he was with Z second. I wish he was never there.”
Another user, @omononaolapo, wrote, “Funny enough, this guy that stabbed him was not even among those that they were fighting.”
Similarly, @Tunde, who described the deceased as his brother, wrote, “Na my brother o. Ajeh. Olodo bike men can be very mean sometimes, and they were all there watching them fight.”
Another user, @Fela, added, “This was why I made this tweet earlier today. This boxer is my younger brother’s friend. I got to church yesterday and my brother told me someone killed his friend. I was shocked when he told me.”
Also, @Pelumifundz, who described Kehinde as the younger brother of a friend, wrote, “This guy is a twin and my friend’s junior brother. He’s so gentle and doesn’t cause trouble. I would really love to know what happened that made the bikeman stab him in the neck. Anyways, rest in peace, Kenny. I know you won’t go without having justice. We will definitely get it for you.”
Confirming the incident on Monday, the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, told our correspondent during a telephone interview that an investigation was ongoing.
Suspected terrorists have abducted 14 students in a Niger State Islamic school.
The incident reportedly happened on Saturday in Pandogari in Rafi Local Government Area.
The PUNCH learnt that the students were abducted while harvesting maize in their teacher’s farm when the terrorists invaded the farm.
The teacher was also reportedly kidnapped during the incident.
The spokesman of the Niger State police command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident on Monday, saying that the number of abducted students was 14 and not 50 as reported.
He also said a joint security mission was on a rescue mission, assuring that the abducted students would be rescued.
“On 31/10/2026 at about 12.30 pm, suspected bandits invaded Tungan-Bako village via Rafi LGA and abducted some persons working on the farm.
“The report further indicated that the abducted victims were about 14 students of an Islamiya helping their Mallam to harvest maize on the farm before the incident.
“However, joint security rescue efforts are ongoing; further developments will be communicated,” he said.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Social Democratic Party governorship candidate, Jonathan Vatsa, speaking on the incident, condemned Governor Mohammed Bago over his handling of the security situation in the state.
He lamented that the governor was busy with electioneering and had failed to protect lives and property.
“The security agencies in the state lack operational vehicles and other necessary equipment to confront the situation.
“The government is only there to issue statements either condemning every attack or condole with the people over the death of their loved ones without any cogent step to address the situation,” Vatsa said.
