The Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalami Abubakar, says Nigeria’s partnership with the United States has significantly strengthened military operations against Boko Haram and its splinter groups.
Speaking in Maiduguri during a visit by defence correspondents, Abubakar said high-level intelligence shared by the US has improved air and ground operations, leading to the elimination of several terrorists. He disclosed that 54 key Boko Haram leaders, including Abu Fatima who carried a ₦100 million bounty, have been neutralised through targeted “decapitation” operations aimed at dismantling the group’s command structure.
According to him, sustained military pressure in 2025 also forced about 16,000 Boko Haram suspects and their families to surrender, improving security and socio-economic conditions in the North East.
Abubakar identified terrorist collaborators as a major challenge, noting that they help supply logistics to insurgents. He said the military is countering this through a “Logistics Strangulation Operation,” which has led to the recovery of over 10,000 litres of petroleum products and lubricants in recent weeks.
He stressed that defeating insurgency requires cutting off terrorists from local support through sustained operations, public sensitisation and stakeholder engagement.
