Multiple terrorists neutralised in Sambisa as coordinated strikes unsettle ISWAP commanders

By: Zagazola Makama

Fresh intelligence emerging from the Sambisa Forest indicates significant disarray within the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) following a series of coordinated ground and aerial strikes by Nigerian forces that dislodged key terrorist hideouts and neutralised dozens of fighters at the turn of the new year.

Zagazola Makama report that on Jan. 2, 2026, intercepted intelligence revealed growing concern among senior ISWAP commanders, including Jundullah and Ibn Hataf, after troops launched a surprise and “deadly” assault on the Balangaje hideout deep inside the Sambisa Forest on Jan. 1.

According to the sources, the Balangaje position described as a long-standing ISWAP enclave was completely overrun by the troops of Operation HADIN KAI, forcing surviving fighters to flee in disarray to other parts of the forest.

The commanders reportedly admitted that their forces were caught unprepared, resulting in a chaotic retreat in which many fighters were cut off and forced to escape individually, abandoning weapons, logistics and command structures.

More critically, the terrorists expressed concern over the fate of several senior commanders who have remained unaccounted for since the assault, raising strong indications of leadership casualties or severe command-and-control breakdown.

Security sources confirmed that the ground assault on Balangaje was launched by forces of 21 Armored Brigade operating in Nguro Soye in Bama Local Government Area.

Zagazola report that this ground success was decisively reinforced by precision air operations conducted under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), marking what one source described as a “welcome to 2026” for insurgent groups operating in the North-East.

On Jan. 1, following authorisation by OPHK, air assets engaged multiple high-value terrorist targets across Sambisa, Gava and the wider OPHK Area of Responsibility.

At about 0027 hours, an armed aircraft code-named Dragon, carried out a precision strike on a building with solar panels at Chiralia, identified as a terrorist logistics and command facility. Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) confirmed the structure was engulfed in flames, with secondary explosions suggesting the presence of stored fuel, explosives or logistics caches.

Further ISR operations tracked suspected Boko Haram Terrorists converging between rocky outcrops in the Gava axis. At approximately 0035 hours on Jan. 2, a precision strike was authorised and executed on the identified coordinates, with Battle Damaged Assessment confirming that about 11 suspected terrorists were neutralised.

Minutes later, surveillance assets observed about 10 additional terrorists fleeing the Gava settlements in panic after hearing the explosions. Continuous tracking revealed another convergence of about eight fighters under a tree, prompting a second precision strike at about 0114 hours.

BDA from the second engagement indicated that the eight terrorists were neutralised, while others fled in different directions. A secondary explosion was again observed near the strike point, reinforcing assessments that the location served as a weapons or logistics cache.

In a related operation, ISR assets identified a large concealed structure covered by trees and fitted with materials suspected to be solar panels, alongside a smaller adjoining building. Following clearance, the larger structure was engaged at about 0229 hours on Jan. 2, with BDA confirming its complete destruction.

Security analysts say the cumulative impact of these strikes has been profound. Beyond the immediate neutralisation of fighters, the operations degraded ISWAP’s logistics, energy supply, shelter and command infrastructure, while also exposing vulnerabilities in what had been considered secure forest hideouts.

The fact that ISWAP commanders are openly worried about missing senior leaders is significant. It points to either high-value casualties or a breakdown in their internal communication, both of which weaken their operational effectiveness.

The Sambisa Forest, once the symbolic and operational heartland of Boko Haram factions, has increasingly become a contested battlespace, with sustained intelligence-driven operations denying terrorists the freedom to regroup or reorganise.

The latest operations also illustrated the growing synergy between ground surface forces and air assets, particularly ISR-enabled precision strikes that exploit real-time intelligence to devastating effect.

The loss of Balangaje and the destruction of multiple hideouts across Chiralia, Gava and IRONS GATE axes further compress ISWAP fighters into smaller, more exposed pockets, increasing the likelihood of defections, internal fragmentation and further leadership losses.

As of press time, operations across the Sambisa Forest were ongoing.

The latest successes reaffirm the momentum of Operation Hadin Kai and suggest that insurgent groups entering 2026 are doing so under sustained pressure, shrinking space and growing internal anxiety over survival.

Multiple terrorists neutralised in Sambisa as coordinated strikes unsettle ISWAP commanders

Gunmen abduct village head in Kwara, wife injured

By: Zagazola Makama

Gunmen have abducted the village head of Afin community in Babanla area of Kwara State, injuring his wife during the attack.

Security sources said the incident occurred at about 10:00 a.m. on Jan. 2, when the assailants invaded Afin Village via Babanla, firing sporadically to scare residents.

The sources said the attackers whisked away the village head, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, while his wife sustained gunshot injuries during the attack.

She was rushed to the General Hospital, Omu-Aran, for medical treatment.

Following the incident, security personnel and local vigilantes were mobilised to the area to track the assailants and rescue the abducted traditional ruler.

The sources said the scene of the incident was visited as efforts continued to trail the gunmen and prevent further attacks in the area.

Investigation into the abduction, the sources added, was ongoing.

Gunmen abduct village head in Kwara, wife injured

Bandits kill two, injure six in Katsina village attack

By: Zagazola Makama

Suspected armed bandits have killed two persons and injured six others during an attack on Naino village in Naalma Ward of Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

NoSecurity sources said the bandits, who were said to have entered the village from the direction of Musawa, struck at about 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, shooting sporadically and injuring about eight residents.

The sources said joint security teams were immediately deployed to the area, while the injured victims were evacuated to the Malumfashi General Hospital for medical attention.

They added that two of the victims, identified as Kamala Lawal, 35, and Tijjani Umaru, 35, were pronounced dead on arrival by a medical doctor, while the remaining six were admitted for treatment.

Following the attack, patrol teams established blockades along anticipated escape routes, while cordon-and-search operations were launched to locate and apprehend the perpetrators.

The sources said security presence had been reinforced in the area to prevent further attacks, as investigations into the incident continued.

Bandits kill two, injure six in Katsina village attack