Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), recorded significant tactical breakthroughs across Sector 4 Area of Operations in Adamawa State, resulting in the neutralisation of 16 terrorists between 30 September and 1 October 2026.

According to statement by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Mohammed Goni, in Maiduguri on Thursday, October 1, the coordinated engagements comprising a lethal ground ambush, a precision air strike, and successful defensive counter-operations culminated in the neutralisation of multiple terrorists, the recovery of an assortment of arms and ammunition, and the frustration of hostile incursions.

The operation commenced in the Boima general area of Gombi Local Government Area, where the troops said they conducted a well-coordinated ambush against a terrorist enclave.

The engagement site led to the recovery of three AK-47 rifles, two pump-action rifles, one Dane gun, six AK-47 magazines, and a belt of pump-action cartridges.

Reinforcing the ground operations, the statement noted that the Air Component of OPHK delivered a precision strike in the early hours of 1 October, 2026.

At approximately 4:40 am, an Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform detected a concentration of about 16 terrorists assembling alongside 15 motorcycles beneath a tree canopy in Sector 4.

“Following positive identification and target acquisition, a precision air interdiction was executed at 5:30 am, recording a direct hit. Subsequent Battle Damage Assessment confirmed the successful destruction of the target, while a few surviving elements scattered in disarray.”

“Concurrently, troops demonstrated resolute defensive capability when insurgents launched coordinated attacks on troop locations at 226 Battalion in Garkida and 232 Battalion in Garaha.

“Responding with overwhelming firepower, the troops repelled the assailants, forcing them to abort the mission and withdraw precipitously.”

The troops, however, reported the deaths of three soldiers during the operations.

“Regrettably, three brave soldiers paid the supreme sacrifice during the fierce battle, while wounded personnel were swiftly evacuated and are currently in stable condition receiving medical treatment. Follow-up exploitation and mop-up operations across the general area are actively ongoing.

“These successes come amid the ongoing rejigging of Headquarters Theatre Command, aimed at strengthening joint integration, improving operational synergy and ensuring the inclusiveness of relevant stakeholders in the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency campaign.

“Building on the strong foundation laid by the previous leadership, the renewed approach is already yielding operational dividends through enhanced coordination of land and air components and other supporting elements.”

The Theatre Command said it remained committed to sustaining its aggressive posture and leveraging intelligence, technology and joint capabilities to deny terrorists freedom of action across the North East.

“As Nigerians commemorate the nation’s Independence Anniversary, the troops of OPHK remain resolute in defending the nation’s territorial integrity and creating the conditions for lasting peace, security and socio-economic development across the region.

“Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, appreciates the continued support and cooperation of the public and urges citizens to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to security agencies as operations continue across the Theatre.”

A 71-year-old man, Douglas Stewart Carter, who has spent 41 years on death row in the United States after being convicted of murdering a woman, has been released on bail after prosecutors said newly analysed DNA evidence did not link him to the crime.

Carter was convicted of killing Eva Olesen in Provo, Utah, in February 1985 and sentenced to death, despite maintaining that he was innocent and that a confession he signed during police interrogation was coerced.

According to the BBC on Tuesday, the Utah Supreme Court ordered a new trial for Carter last year, citing misconduct by investigators.

A judge on Monday granted Carter bail despite objections from Olesen’s family. He is required to wear a GPS monitor while awaiting the new trial.

Olesen, the aunt of a local police chief, was stabbed multiple times and shot in the back of the head at her home.

Carter, who is originally from Chicago, was living with his mother in Utah at the time. Court documents showed that police suspected him of killing Olesen during a robbery.

Carter fled Utah after believing he was a suspect in an unrelated case and was later arrested in Nashville, Tennessee, where he signed a confession during interrogation.

However, there was no physical evidence linking him to the crime scene.

He was convicted by a jury based on the confession and testimony from two witnesses who claimed he had bragged about the killing.

The two witnesses later said in 2011 that they had been instructed to lie in court, given cash and gifts by police and threatened with deportation if they did not testify against Carter.

Carter’s lawyers also said witnesses had seen a white man fleeing the scene and alleged that an investigator suppressed evidence pointing to Olesen’s husband, Orla Olesen, as a possible suspect.

Orla Olesen, who died in 2009, had told police that he found his wife dead in their home.

The victim’s stab wounds were believed to have been inflicted with a knife from the couple’s kitchen, which was found near her body. The gun used in the killing was not recovered.

Prosecutors this month said DNA analysis had excluded Carter as a possible match to blood found on a doorknob and genetic material recovered from the knife handle.

Carter’s release was opposed by Olesen’s family.

Theresa Olesen, Eva Olesen’s daughter-in-law, told Monday’s bond hearing that her family had “serious concerns” about Carter’s release and said he should remain in custody pending a new trial.

“By golly we were hoping for a concrete match,” Olesen said of the DNA analysis. “It doesn’t mean he wasn’t there.”

Carter’s defence lawyer, Neal Hamilton, called for the case to be dismissed.

“If the state of Utah had their way, he would have been executed 15, 20 years ago before we discovered the misconduct,” he told Associated Press.

The newly established Edo state special criminal court on Tuesday sentenced four persons to death over the abduction of a woman at Vegetable market along Airport road in Benin city, Edo state.

Justice Aigbona Momodu, the trial judge convicted the four defendants on a 11-count charge bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms

The defendants are Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael.

The abduction of the victim took place on June 14, 2026.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Momodu held that he had no choice than to impose the maximum sentence stipulated by the law on the defendants.

The judge sentenced the defendants to seven years in prison each for count one.

Isaac, the first defendant, was sentenced to death by hanging or administration of lethal injection for counts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

The first defendant was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for count 10 and life imprisonment for count 11.

Wisdom Michael, the second defendant, was sentenced to death by hanging or administration of lethal injection for counts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Rufus Emete Michael, the third defendant, got death by hanging or administration of lethal injection for counts 2,3,6, and 7.

Raphael, the fourth defendant, got death by hanging or administration of lethal injection for counts 2, 4, 6, and 8.

The judge also ordered that the pump action and cartridges retrieved from the defendants should be seized by the Federal Government and destroyed by the police within 30 days.

This is the maiden judgment of the Edo special court since it was established in June.

In June, Daniel Okungbowa, the chief judge of Edo state, constituted a special court to prosecute cultism and kidnapping cases in the state to tackle violent crimes.

Osawaru said the special court was established following the request of Monday Okpebholo, governor of the state.