Troops eliminate suicide bombers, foil attack in Borno
In a major security breakthrough during the first week of 2026, troops of the Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai have successfully prevented what could have been a devastating suicide mission in Borno State. The operation, which resulted in the neutralisation of three terrorist bombers, was confirmed in a statement by Lt. Col. Uba Sani, the Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force (North East).
Acting on covert intelligence and supported by local volunteer forces, the troops intercepted the bombers before they could reach their civilian targets. During the high-stakes encounter, security forces recovered suicide vests and various improvised explosive device (IED) materials. The military also inflicted heavy casualties on the armed terrorist escorts protecting the bombers, forcing the survivors to retreat into the rugged terrain of the Mandara Mountains.
Following the skirmish, the troops recovered four abandoned AK-47 rifles and destroyed two motorcycles used for the mission. Preliminary intelligence indicates that the attackers were dispatched by the Ali Ngulde-led JAS faction of Boko Haram, a group that has recently intensified its use of suicide tactics. This success follows the recent capture of Ibrahim Mohammed, a bomber linked to the Christmas Eve mosque attack in Maiduguri, further highlighting the military’s ongoing efforts to dismantle the insurgent network’s BBIED (Body-Borne IED) cells.
