Troops of the Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have intercepted a suspicious vehicle and recovered approximately ₦37 million in cash, alongside multiple mobile phones suspected to be linked to terrorist activities, in Borno State.
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Disclosing this in a statement on Monday, spokesman of the JTF, Sani Uba, said the operation, conducted through the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Chabbal Checkpoint, forms part of ongoing efforts to dismantle financial and logistical networks supporting terrorist groups in the North East.
He said the vehicle, carrying five occupants, was intercepted during routine patrols along known terrorist transit routes.
“This interception represents a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle financial conduits suspected to support terrorist logistics and operational activities,” the statement read.
Similarly, troops thwarted coordinated attacks by terrorists on Pulka and Mandaragirau communities in Gwoza Local Government Area, inflicting heavy losses, including the elimination of a senior Boko Haram commander, one Abou Aisha, who sustained a critical gunshot injury to the neck.
Uba, a lieutenant-colonel, said significant weapons and equipment were also recovered.
According to him, the engagements reportedly left no casualties among troops, though some members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) supporting the operations paid the supreme price.
He stated that the injured soldiers were immediately evacuated via OPHK’s Air Component and Nigerian Army aviation platforms.
Uba described the operations as part of a deliberate strategy to disrupt terrorist supply chains and deny insurgents freedom of movement.
“Troops have sustained operational momentum from recent successful defensive actions in Pulka and Mandaragirau, transitioning decisively into logistics strangulation operations aimed at crippling terrorist networks across the theatre,” he said.
Uba noted that during the night of February 14–16, terrorists mounted attacks from the Sambisa Forest axis on Pulka and Mandaragirau.
In a display of gallantry, he maintained that the troops responded with intense firefights, successfully containing the assaults and forcing the terrorists to retreat in disarray.
“Regrettably, some gallant personnel and Civilian Joint Task Force members paid the supreme price in the defence of their location, while a few soldiers sustained injuries and were immediately evacuated by the Air Component of OPHK and the Nigerian Army Aviation platforms.
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