According to the military, the sustained offensive pressure forced terrorist elements to abandon key facilities, exposing their locations and enabling troops to move deep into areas previously considered inaccessible. The destroyed facilities, concealed within the Timbuktu Triangle forest stretching across Borno and Yobe states, were assessed to have the capacity to hold up to 300 detainees. This highlights their importance to ISWAP’s operational and coercive framework.

The operation also resulted in the escape of more than 70 captives, many of whom later resurfaced in communities including Goniri, Buratai and Mandaragirau. Several of the escapees confirmed that they fled during intense gun battles between advancing troops and ISWAP fighters.

One of the freed captives, Malam Jidda Ba Jidda, a native of Kufi village near Buratai in Biu Local Government Area, said he was abducted on December 22, 2025, and managed to escape amid the clashes in the Timbuktu Triangle.

Military sources disclosed that ISWAP suffered heavy losses during the encounters, with no fewer than 32 fighters neutralised, including two Qaids and three Munzirs, while several others sustained serious injuries.

Following a thorough clearance of the area, the three detention facilities were deliberately demolished to permanently deny the terrorists the opportunity to reuse or reoccupy the sites. The military described the operation as successful and incident-free, praising the resilience, discipline and combat effectiveness of the troops involved.

The Armed Forces noted that the destruction of the detention camps represents more than a tactical victory. It degrades ISWAP’s internal enforcement mechanisms, disrupts its ability to detain civilians and collect ransom, and further restricts the group’s freedom of action.

The mass escape of detainees is also expected to weaken the terrorists’ grip on local populations while providing valuable intelligence to support ongoing operations.

While the overall security situation across the theatre remains calm but unpredictable, the military said troop morale and fighting efficiency remain high, reaffirming its commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist elements, denying them safe havens and restoring lasting peace and security across Nigeria’s North East.