Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully repelled a series of coordinated attacks by terrorists in Borno and Yobe States, killing more than 50 insurgents and recovering a significant cache of weapons.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Nigerian Army disclosed that the attacks occurred between midnight and 4 a.m. in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko — all areas under Sector 1 (Borno) and Sector 2 (Yobe).
The statement, signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East (OPHK), noted that the troops “fought gallantly and professionally,” holding their positions and inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers.
According to the army, the success of the operation was enhanced by precision airstrikes conducted by the Air Component Command of OPHK, which acted on credible intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) reports.
“The combined ground and air operations resulted in the neutralisation of over 50 terrorists across all the locations,” the statement read in part.
Items recovered from the terrorists included 38 AK-47 rifles, seven PKT machine guns, five RPG tubes, two GPMGs, several hand grenades, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
The Army further disclosed that more than 70 wounded terrorists were on the run as troops continued their pursuit.
According to intelligence reports, the attackers who launched assaults on Dikwa and Gajibo originated from the Cameroon border axis, while those who struck Katarko advanced from the notorious Timbuktu Triangle.
Although a few soldiers sustained injuries during the clashes, the Army confirmed that they were in stable condition and receiving medical attention.
It also noted that parts of Dikwa and Mafa experienced minor damage from rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and drone strikes during the confrontation.
The military high command commended the troops for their bravery and professionalism, reiterating its commitment to eliminating terrorism and safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity.