Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have maintained firm control over Ngoshe and Gwoza areas of Borno State, successfully countering terrorist propaganda and ensuring residents celebrated Eid-el-Fitr peacefully.
Terrorists linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had recently circulated claims of plans to overrun Ngoshe and hold Sallah prayers at the Central Mosque, in what security authorities described as a desperate attempt to create panic and project a false sense of strength.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, said the threats reflected a struggling group increasingly dependent on misinformation rather than operational capability.
She recalled that on the night of March 3 to 4, 2026, insurgents attacked Ngoshe, a rural community in Gwoza Local Government Area, targeting a military base, setting buildings and vehicles ablaze, and attacking civilians after they broke their Ramadan fast.
According to local and United Nations sources, dozens of people were reportedly killed during the attack, while more than 100 women and children were abducted. The assault also displaced about 12,000 residents—approximately 1,067 households—who fled to nearby Pulka town as internally displaced persons.
Anele said troops acted swiftly on credible intelligence to reinforce the area following the attempted incursion on March 4 and intensified clearance operations. She noted that the proactive response, supported by aerial surveillance and cooperation from residents, disrupted terrorist movements and led to the neutralisation of several insurgents.
“Consequently, Ngoshe and the adjoining Gwoza axis remained calm, secured, and firmly under the control of Nigerian Army troops throughout the Sallah period. Residents freely observed prayers and celebrated without any interference, further exposing the hollowness of terrorist claims,” she said.
She added that troops, led by the Commander of the 26 Task Force Brigade, Brig.-Gen. N.I. Abdullahi, joined worshippers to observe Eid prayers at the Ngoshe Central Mosque, a move she said reassured residents and underscored the continued failure of terrorist propaganda.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, commended the resilience and cooperation of the local population, stressing that community support remains vital to sustaining operational gains.
He urged members of the public to disregard and avoid amplifying terrorist propaganda, describing such narratives as tools used by weakened groups to instill fear and undermine security efforts.
Shaibu assured that troops of Operation Hadin Kai would sustain aggressive operations across the theatre to consolidate recent gains, eliminate residual threats, and ensure lasting peace and security in the North-East.
