Army Kills Top Sambisa Boko Haram Commander as Military Intensifies Offensive in North-East

Nigerian troops under the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have eliminated a senior Boko Haram commander, Abu Khalid, alongside 10 other insurgents. This is the result of a coordinated night operation in Borno State, the military has confirmed.

Abu Khalid, identified as the second-in-command of Boko Haram in the Sambisa Forest, was killed during a late-night offensive around 11:00 p.m. in the Komala general area of Konduga Local Government Area. The operation was carried out by troops of Sector 1 in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) under Operation Desert Sanity.

According to the military, Abu Khalid played a critical role within the Boko Haram/ISWAP hierarchy. He oversaw logistics and coordinated attacks across the Sambisa axis, one of the group’s most enduring strongholds.

The latest operation came barely 24 hours after troops neutralized another high-profile Boko Haram/ISWAP commander, Julaibib, in the Gujba axis of the Timbuktu Triangle. This signals what security sources describe as a sustained and intelligence-driven offensive against insurgent leadership.

Weapons and supplies recovered from the scene included five AK-47 rifles, loaded magazines and bicycles commonly used by fighters for mobility. Other items include large quantities of food and significant medical supplies. This further indicates ongoing preparations by the terrorists to sustain operations in the area, the army said.

“No casualty was recorded among own troops during the operation,” the military said. It added that morale among personnel remains high as clearance operations continue across the Sambisa Forest, Mandara Mountains, Timbuktu Triangle and other known insurgent hideouts in the North-East.

The renewed military push comes amid growing public concern over insecurity nationwide. Boko Haram and its Islamic State-affiliated offshoot, ISWAP, continue to mount deadly attacks in the North-East. Other parts of the country are also facing a surge in kidnappings for ransom, banditry and communal violence, stretching security forces thin.

In recent weeks, insurgents have carried out attacks on military formations and civilian targets in Borno and neighbouring states. It has raised questions about the durability of earlier gains claimed by the authorities.

However, analysts note that the targeting of senior commanders could weaken the operational capacity of the groups in the short to medium term.

The Joint Task Force (North East) reiterated its commitment to maintaining pressure on terrorist elements until they are completely neutralized. It stressed that restoring lasting peace and economic stability in the region remains a top priority.