Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have neutralised no fewer than 80 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters following a failed attack on Mallam Fatori in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday when insurgents launched a coordinated assault on the border town, advancing on foot and deploying armed drones in an attempt to overrun troops stationed at the 68 Battalion, particularly along the Bravo Company axis from Duguri.
According to a statement by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, troops had prior intelligence of the attack and responded with a well-coordinated defensive strategy.
He explained that the soldiers engaged the insurgents with precise and disciplined firepower, successfully disrupting their advance and forcing them into disarray.
“Through coordinated manoeuvres and strong situational awareness, the attackers were repelled and neutralised, with over 80 terrorists confirmed killed,” Uba stated.
The operation was further reinforced by precision airstrikes from the Nigerian Air Force, alongside support from allied Nigerien air assets.
Following the encounter, troops recovered a large cache of weapons and combat equipment, including 52 AK-47 rifles, eight PKT machine guns, seven RPG launchers, five General Purpose Machine Guns, over 3,000 rounds of ammunition, 21 RPG bombs, nine improvised explosive devices, communication radios, and drone components.
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Four soldiers sustained minor injuries during the operation and have since been stabilised, while further assessment of the airstrikes is ongoing.
The military also confirmed the elimination of three key terrorist commanders Mallam Abdulrahman Gobara, Mallam Ba Yuram, and Abou Ayyuba along with several other fighters.
Uba described the development as a significant blow to the insurgents’ command structure and operational capacity in the region.
He added that the successful operation underscores the resilience and growing effectiveness of Operation HADIN KAI forces, dismissing recent claims suggesting setbacks by troops.
“Troops remain in firm control of all locations, maintaining dominance through sustained operations, effective coordination, and high morale,” he said.
The military noted that the outcome marks a major setback for Boko Haram/ISWAP activities in the Lake Chad region and reaffirmed its commitment to securing affected communities.
Residents were urged to remain vigilant and rely only on verified information from credible sources.
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