Nigerian military forces operating under Operation Hadin Kai repelled coordinated insurgent attacks in Adamawa State and Borno State, preventing armed groups from overrunning key military positions in the country’s northeast, the military said on Friday.
Official statements said the operations thwarted near-simultaneous attempts by insurgents to breach security perimeters and seize strategic patrol camps.
Attack on Patrol Camp in Adamawa
In the early hours of Jan. 16, insurgents attacked a patrol camp at Sabon Gari in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Troops at the camp, supported by reinforcements from Gulak and the Battalion Emergency Response Team, engaged the attackers in a sustained exchange of fire.
Military authorities said the attackers were forced to retreat, with no loss of personnel or equipment reported on the government side.
Following the clash, military engineers conducted clearance operations to detect and remove mines and booby traps to secure surrounding communities.
Multi-Directional Assault in Borno
At about the same time, a larger insurgent force launched a multi-directional assault on a forward operating base in Azir, Borno State.
The attackers attempted to breach the base’s perimeter using rocket-propelled grenades, damaging a CCTV control room and a military vehicle and causing a brief fire inside the facility, the military said.
Ground troops held their positions until air support from the Nigerian Air Force arrived, forcing the attackers to withdraw.
After the engagement, troops recovered weapons and explosives, including mortar bombs, improvised explosive devices, heavy machine gun ammunition and hundreds of rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
Rising Security Pressure in the Northeast
The clashes come amid sustained militant activity in northeastern Nigeria at the start of 2026.
Earlier this month, a roadside bomb attack on a military convoy near Bindundul in Borno State killed nine soldiers.
Separately, reports on Jan. 12 cited expanded international cooperation in counterterrorism efforts, including joint security operations and alleged U.S. precision strikes targeting insurgent groups in other parts of Nigeria.
Defence analysts say the developments point to intensified regional and international efforts to contain militant violence.
Military: Operations Continue
Commanders of Operation Hadin Kai said clearance operations are continuing in the affected areas to prevent fleeing insurgents from regrouping.
The military said it remains committed to maintaining territorial control and protecting civilians in conflict-affected communities.
No civilian casualties were reported in the latest attacks.
