Troops Secure Ngoshe, Neutralise Insurgents as Eid Holds Without Disruption in Gwoza Axis

 

Nigerian troops have secured Ngoshe and the wider Gwoza axis in Borno State, neutralising insurgents and ensuring uninterrupted Eid-el-Fitr celebrations, in a development that signals sustained operational control despite renewed terrorist propaganda.

Desk: Defence & Strategy

Date: Sunday, 22 March 2026

Time: 09:00 WAT

Location: Ngoshe, Borno 

The outcome follows a failed attempt by Boko Haram and ISWAP elements to project a resurgence through false claims of plans to overrun Ngoshe and conduct Sallah prayers at the Central Mosque, according to a statement issued by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele.

Acting on credible intelligence, troops reinforced the area after an attempted incursion on 4 March and intensified clearance operations, combining ground action with aerial surveillance and local intelligence support. The operations led to the neutralisation of several insurgents and further degradation of their operational capacity.

Operational pressure translated into civilian assurance, with Ngoshe and adjoining communities remaining calm and under firm military control throughout the Eid period. Residents observed prayers and carried out celebrations without disruption, directly contradicting insurgent narratives.

In a calculated show of presence, troops led by the Commander 26 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier General NI Abdullahi, joined worshippers at the Ngoshe Central Mosque for Eid prayers, reinforcing confidence among residents and signalling territorial dominance.

The Chief of Army Staff commended the resilience of local communities and reiterated the importance of civilian cooperation in sustaining gains, the statement added, while urging the public to disregard and avoid amplifying terrorist propaganda designed to create fear and distort operational realities.

The Nigerian military is expected to sustain intensified operations across the North East as part of efforts to eliminate residual threats and consolidate battlefield gains into enduring security stability.

Tags: Nigeria Defence, Operation Hadin Kai, Borno Security, Counterterrorism, Ngoshe, Gwoza, Nigerian Army

#NigeriaSecurity #OperationHadinKai #CounterTerrorism #Borno