Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have stopped an attempted attack by terrorists in Borno State, dealing heavy losses to the insurgents during the operation.
The incident happened in the early hours of Thursday when fighters suspected to have moved from the Mandara Mountains tried to enter the Bitta area of the state. According to the military, the troops were on alert and detected unusual movements around 12:30 a.m. through surveillance support.
A statement shared by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, North East, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, explained that soldiers allowed the terrorists to move closer before engaging them to ensure effective response.
During the exchange of gunfire, several insurgents were killed, including a senior fighter and a cameraman believed to be documenting the attack. As the remaining fighters tried to escape, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai launched targeted strikes on their retreat paths, causing further losses and preventing an orderly withdrawal.
After the confrontation, ground troops searched the area and recovered various weapons and items believed to belong to the terrorists. These included rifles, magazines filled with ammunition, communication devices, mobile phones, machine guns, ammunition belts, motorcycles and bicycles.
Further checks around the area showed bloodstains and shallow graves, which the military said suggested that more terrorists were injured or killed during the clash and the follow-up air strikes.
Lieutenant Colonel Uba said the operation showed the determination of the troops to keep pressure on terrorist groups and protect local communities. He added that soldiers involved in the mission remain motivated as operations continue to limit the movement and activities of insurgents in the North East.
The army stressed that efforts remain ongoing to restore peace and stability across the region and prevent further attacks on civilians.