Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully recovered 1,270 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition warheads, live 12.7mm rounds, and several power banks hidden inside a drainage channel in the Bulumkutu area of Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to Lt Col Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force Northeast, the discovery followed a distress call on January 2 reporting suspicious metallic objects in the drainage along the Bulumkutu Railway area. Troops, supported by Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, quickly mobilised to the scene to secure the environment.
“The recovery followed a sustained presence and follow-up actions after a recent cordon-and-search operation, based on actionable intelligence aimed at denying criminal elements freedom of action,” Lt Col Uba said. He added that the operation came after multiple suicide bombers were neutralised or captured in the past week.
The search led to the discovery of the ammunition cache and power banks, with preliminary steps taken to secure the site. Efforts are ongoing to drain the water in the channel to check for additional dangerous items.
Lt Col Uba assured residents that no casualties or unusual incidents occurred during the operation and that troops, in collaboration with police and other security agencies, continue to patrol the area to protect residents and critical infrastructure.
“The operation underscores the importance of intelligence-led actions, community cooperation, and sustained military pressure,” he said. He also urged the public to report suspicious items or movements to security agencies, emphasizing that collective vigilance remains vital for peace and security in the North East.
