Nigerian troops operating under Operation HADIN KAI, together with local vigilantes and hunters, have killed a senior Boko Haram commander and arrested a suspected logistics and drone supplier during separate operations in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
According to security sources, the first operation occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, when troops engaged suspected Boko Haram fighters in an ambush along the Visik River. During the firefight, Abdullahi Mafa, a former hybrid commander operating in Madagali, was neutralised.
About an hour later, a follow-up raid at Madagali Motor Park led to the arrest of 64-year-old Dauda Usman Gubula, suspected of collaborating with Boko Haram and supplying drones and other logistics to insurgents. Security officials recovered two aerial drones and 20 solar power banks from him. Gubula is currently in custody for further investigation.
These operations are part of ongoing efforts by the military to dismantle Boko Haram networks and restore stability across the North-East.
In a related development, troops in Borno State on February 16 intercepted five suspects travelling in a red Golf wagon carrying about N37 million in cash. The money was discovered hidden inside a bag and a sack during a routine checkpoint search. The suspects, two women and three men, claimed the funds were intended for distribution to beneficiaries of a non-governmental organisation. Authorities also recovered about ten mobile phones from the group, and investigations are ongoing.
The military continues to emphasize efforts to cut off financing and logistics supporting terrorism, while maintaining operations to protect civilians and stabilize affected areas.
