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Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have once again demonstrated resilience, professionalism and superior combat capability by decisively foiling coordinated terrorist attacks across parts of Adamawa and Borno States, while inflicting heavy losses on fleeing terrorists during follow-up operations.

According to a statement signed the Acting Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant  SA Atokolo.

In the early hours of 16 January 2026, terrorists attempted to overrun a patrol base at Sabon Gari in Madagali LGA of Adamawa State under Sector 4 OPHK. Alert troops swiftly engaged the attackers, supported by reinforcements from Gulak and the Battalion Quick Reaction Force. The terrorists were successfully repelled without any casualties to our troops and equipment, forcing them to abandon the attack. The general area was subsequently cleared and scanned for Improvised Explosive Devices and booby traps to ensure civilian and troop safety.

In a related development on the same day, terrorists launched a large-scale, multi-directional attack on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Azir in Borno State. The attackers initially attempted to breach part of the defensive perimeter but were met with overwhelming and sustained firepower from gallant troops with support from the Air Component and other Nigerian Army aerial platforms. After a prolonged firefight lasting over an hour, the terrorists were decisively overpowered and forced to withdraw.

During the engagement, terrorists’ Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) fire affected Troop Carrying Vehicles and the CCTV control room which were partially gutted by fire. Despite this, troops maintained firm control of the situation. Several terrorist weapons and ammunition, including a 60mm mortar tube, mortar bombs, locally fabricated explosives, heavy machine gun rounds and hundreds of rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, were recovered from the terrorists.

Crucially, this engagement did not end at the FOB. Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms immediately tracked the fleeing terrorists, enabling follow-up operations along identified withdrawal routes by the Air Component of OPHK. The precision strikes by the Nigerian Airforce platforms resulted in the neutralisation of additional scores of the terrorists, dealing a severe blow to the group’s fighting strength and morale. Evidence from the exploitation confirmed that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties.

The sacrifices of personnel underscores the overall commitment of troops in securing lives and the troops of OPHK remain resolute and unwavering in their mandate to deny terrorists freedom of action, dismantle their networks and protect the integrity of the North East region. Operations continue until all threats are eliminated.

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Tension is rising in Umeh, a riverine community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, following allegations of attacks by herdsmen on residents and travellers.

A community leader and lawyer, Akpovienehe Duncan Afahakor, raised the alarm yesterday in a post on the Facebook platform, Umeh Need Road, warning that the situation was fast deteriorating.

In the post titled, “Umeh under attack,” Afahakor alleged that herdsmen had taken over farmlands and were attacking road users.

“No one truly understands the intentions of the group. They have occupied the Umeh bushes, preventing our people from accessing their farms. Beyond this, they emerge from the bush to attack motorcycle riders along the Umeh bridge. Just two days ago, without any provocation, one of our youths was shot in the leg multiple times,” he wrote.

According to him, the development has crippled farming in the agrarian community.

“As a result, we can no longer go to our farms to tend to our pepper, cassava, and plantain crops. The attacks have now extended to the road, and if urgent help does not arrive, there is real fear that the violence could spread into the community itself,” the post added.

Umeh, which gained access by road during the administration of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan following sustained advocacy on the platform, is mostly dependent on farming and riverine trade.

The Isoko South Local Government Chairman ‘s Chief Press Secretary, Michael Akpodhoma said he would communicate its action on the matter by today.

However, the state Police Command said it had not received any report of the alleged attack.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Bright Edafe, told The Nation: “We don’t have that report.”

Residents are calling for urgent intervention by the state government and security agencies to prevent further escalation.

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No fewer than 25 underage girls working as sex workers have been rescued from a hotel in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area.

The girls, in a video posted online by an indigene of the area, confessed that they were trafficked into Anambra from Ebonyi State to serve as prostitutes.

In the video, some of the girls also said they were brought into the state by persons they referred to as their madam, from Akwa Ibom, Abia and Niger states.

One of the survivors, who identified herself as Divine, a 14 year old girl, said she was brought in by a woman who met her and her cousin in Abakaliki and offered to get them a job in Anambra State.

“She asked us if we would like to travel to Anambra and work. I agreed and said maybe when I come here, I can send money to my family. She took me, my cousin and her friend here.

“When we came here, she told us the work, but we said we could not do it and wanted to go back. They then said we would have to work to pay for the transport they used to bring us here.

“Since then, we have been trying to escape, but they did not allow us. We once escaped and they caught us. Even when we were on our period, they used to give us cotton wool to clean our private parts so that blood would not stain the men or the bedsheets,” she narrated.

Divine’s mother, who traced her to Aguleri before reporting to authorities in the community, said her daughter had been missing since October 2025. Divine’s cousin and friend who were taken along with her gave their ages as 15 and 19 years respectively in the video.

Other girls who were rescued said they were brought by older women who lured them from different locations with the promise of jobs.

A narrator in the now viral video said the girls were camped at Morning Star Hotel, where men came to sleep with them for fees that accrued to their madam.

As at the time of filing this report, police authorities in Anambra were yet to confirm the report.