In a significant display of resilience and tactical response, troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), successfully repelled a complex, coordinated terrorist assault on the strategically vital Maiduguri–Damboa Main Supply Route (MSR) in Borno State. The attack, which occurred at approximately 3:10 pm on Monday, December 22, 2025, underscores the persistent threat to key infrastructure in Nigeria’s Northeast but also highlights the evolving capabilities of the military in counter-insurgency operations.
The incident, confirmed by a credible military source to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), involved troops from the 25 Brigade. These soldiers were conducting a critical MSR dominance patrol—a routine but essential military tactic to secure and assert control over major roads—while simultaneously escorting civilian traffic. This dual mission highlights the military’s ongoing role in both combat and the protection of civilian movement in conflict zones.
The terrorists, identified as elements of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’adati wal-Jihad (JAS), employed a sophisticated multi-vector attack strategy. This included the use of armed drones, a growing and concerning trend in asymmetric warfare that allows for reconnaissance and strikes from the air with relative impunity. The assault was further compounded by improvised explosive devices (IEDs)—the insurgents’ weapon of choice for area denial and causing mass casualties—and a conventional ambush. This combination represents a deliberate attempt to overwhelm and disrupt military logistics and sever a crucial lifeline for communities and the economy.
The military’s response was swift and effective. Upon contact, reinforcements were immediately mobilized from the Brigade Headquarters, demonstrating improved communication and rapid reaction protocols. This enabled the troops on the ground to counter-attack, stabilize the situation, and ultimately dominate the area, denying the terrorists freedom of action. This phrase is a key military objective, meaning the security forces established such a level of control that the adversary could no longer operate freely in that space.
This event is not an isolated incident but part of a broader, sustained offensive. The source noted that troops continue Operation Desert Sanity IV across other sectors of OPHK. This phase of the operation is part of a long-term campaign to clear terrorist enclaves in the Lake Chad region and the Sambisa Forest, aiming to degrade their logistical networks and leadership.
Simultaneous Successes in Other Theatres
The report also details concurrent military successes in other troubled regions, illustrating a nationwide operational tempo:
- North Central (Kaduna & Plateau): Under Operation Enduring Peace and Operation FANSAN YAMMA, troops are targeting kidnapping and criminal gangs. In Kaduna’s Kauru LGA, an intelligence-led operation with local vigilantes led to the arrest of two suspected kidnappers, showcasing the importance of community collaboration.
- Plateau State: While troops responded to a tragic incident in Panyam (one killed, one abducted), they achieved a major victory in Bokkos LGA. A swift military response forced kidnappers to abandon a Reverend and his three children, who were abducted from a church premises. The victims were successfully rescued and reunited with their family. This outcome is a testament to the pressure being applied, forcing criminals into hasty, defensive actions.
The military source reaffirmed the armed forces’ commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorists and criminal elements across all theatres. The dual narrative of the report—a repelled complex attack in the Northeast and proactive, successful operations in the North Central—serves to communicate a message of relentless engagement and gradual, hard-fought progress in ensuring the safety of lives and property across Nigeria.
Edited by Yakubu Uba
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