Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have repelled coordinated terrorist attacks in Limankara and Kukawa areas of Borno State, neutralising several fighters in sustained air and ground offensives.

The military disclosed this in a statement issued on February 22, 2026, by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East).

According to the statement, terrorists launched coordinated assaults on the night of February 20, 2026, targeting troops in Limankara and Kukawa. The attacks were, however, decisively repelled as troops mounted strong resistance backed by air support.

In a related operation, troops of Sector 2 under Operation DESERT SANITY V carried out a precision strike in the early hours of February 22 around Lamusheri Village in Gujba Local Government Area. The area had been identified as a key terrorist launch pad and logistics hub following weeks of intelligence gathering supported by satellite imagery and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms.

The troops reportedly came under fire while advancing but, in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, outflanked the insurgents and cut off their withdrawal routes. During the ensuing firefight, 15 terrorists were neutralised, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

The military said several defensive and life-support structures were destroyed during the operation. Five tricycles and two vehicles allegedly used by the terrorists for attacks and logistics were set ablaze. Troops also recovered arms and ammunition, including bandoliers and carmel pouches.

At about 12:56 a.m., terrorists in unconfirmed numbers attempted to infiltrate the Forward Operating Base in Limankara. Alert troops engaged them in a fierce firefight, with reinforcement and air support overwhelming the attackers, who fled through the burial ground axis. The military reported no casualties or equipment losses on its side, while intelligence sources indicated the terrorists suffered casualties.

Similarly, at about 11:20 p.m., insurgents mounted on gun trucks and motorcycles, supported by fighters on foot, launched a multi-pronged attack on troops in Kukawa from the Alagarno and Jemmu axes. The clash extended into the early hours of February 21.

Ground troops, backed by the Nigerian Air Force, engaged the attackers in an intense firefight. One terrorist gun truck was destroyed in a precision air strike, killing four fighters. Further aerial surveillance tracked fleeing insurgents on five motorcycles to a convergence point, where another strike destroyed the motorcycles and neutralised 10 additional fighters.

Following the operation, troops recovered 13 AK-47 rifles, 16 loaded magazines, three handheld radios, stretchers used to evacuate casualties, as well as shallow graves and blood trails reportedly left by the insurgents.

The military confirmed that one soldier was killed during the engagement, while some combat enablers were destroyed by rocket fire. Wounded personnel were evacuated by Nigerian Army Aviation helicopters and are said to be in stable condition.

Operation HADIN KAI stated that the coordinated operations across multiple fronts have further degraded the terrorists’ combat capacity and reinforced its operational dominance in the North-East theatre.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what it described as his alleged preoccupation with partisan politics at the expense of tackling insecurity across the country.

In a statement issued Sunday in Abuja and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group said it was “unbelievably shocking” that the president was allegedly focusing on preparations for the next general election rather than confronting the escalating wave of violence in several states.

HURIWA accused the president of paying attention to political developments, including praising the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over the outcome of recent FCT local council elections, while communities in parts of the country face deadly attacks by terrorists.

The group cited a recent incident in Ondo State in which a traditional ruler was reportedly kidnapped and killed, as well as ongoing attacks in Zamfara, Borno, Sokoto and parts of Kwara states. It alleged that several local government areas in the North-west and North-central regions remain under persistent threat from armed groups.

HURIWA also expressed concern over the reported killing of more than 50 people in attacks on communities in Anka and Bukuyum local government areas of Zamfara State between Thursday and Friday night. The casualty figures were reportedly confirmed by a state lawmaker, Hamisu Faru, who represents Bukuyum South in the Zamfara State House of Assembly.

Quoting Faru’s interview with German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), HURIWA said the attackers moved through forest routes before storming villages, including Mudutse, setting houses ablaze and shooting residents who attempted to flee.

“Initially, we counted 41 bodies. As I speak, reports received after the late afternoon prayer show the death toll has risen to over 50. In our region, this is a catastrophe beyond words,” Faru was quoted as saying.

The lawmaker also alleged that security agencies were alerted during the attack and that air support was reportedly deployed but failed to neutralise the assailants before they retreated.

Residents were also reported to have said that dozens of women and children were abducted during the attacks, with homes and food supplies destroyed, leaving communities displaced and in distress.

HURIWA questioned what it described as delayed or ineffective responses by security forces, arguing that the president, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, should investigate the alleged intelligence and operational lapses.

The group further recalled a previous attack in neighbouring Kebbi State, where a government girls’ secondary school was invaded by terrorists. It alleged that troops stationed near the school were withdrawn hours before the incident and criticised authorities for failing to publicly disclose the outcome of any investigation into the matter.

HURIWA also criticised the Defence leadership, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Gwabin Musa, over what it described as a lack of transparency regarding disciplinary measures against officers allegedly linked to security lapses.

The civil rights organisation urged the federal government to prioritise governance and intensify efforts to end what it termed the “cocktail of bloodbath” across the country, warning against actions it said could deepen political divisions and distract from urgent national security concerns.

The Federal Government has dismissed reports that it plans to introduce compulsory military service for Nigerian youths, clarifying that there is no intention to enforce mandatory enlistment.

The clarification was made on Friday by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), who spoke during the presentation of a book titled Serving the Nation: Exploring Mandatory Military Service for Nigerian Youths. He was represented at the event by Col. George Usibe, Deputy Director of Special Duties.

“The Federal Government has no policy to introduce mandatory military service in Nigeria at present,” the minister stressed, noting that suggestions to the contrary were unfounded. Instead, Gen. Musa reiterated that the country’s military will continue to operate as a professional volunteer force, supported by existing civic service programmes.

Gen. Musa highlighted that youth engagement in national development continues through established initiatives such as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which aims to foster national unity and expose young Nigerians to diverse cultures across the country.

He said security challenges like insurgency and terrorismcan nott be resolved solely through manpower increases. Instead, the minister stressed that effective governance, strong institutions, and trust between citizens and the government are essential pillars in confronting insecurity.

While Gen. Musa acknowledged the value of structured national service in promoting unity, discipline and civic responsibility, he emphasised that any future policy in this area would need to align with constitutional provisions, economic realities, and institutional capacity.

The minister also noted that the ongoing national conversation on youth service provides an opportunity for scholarly and public input, but insisted the government is not pursuing compulsory military conscription at this time