Troops operating under Operation Hadin Kai have carried out successful offensives against suspected terrorists in Borno State, killing 18 fighters and recovering a cache of weapons during coordinated operations.
The operations, which took place in the Bulabulin Forest and the Timbuktu axis, were conducted through a joint effort involving ground troops and the Nigerian Air Force.
In a statement, the spokesperson for the joint task force in the North-East, Sani Uba, said 11 terrorists were killed in the Bulabulin Forest, while another seven were neutralised in the Timbuktu area.
He explained that in the Bulabulin operation, troops advanced into several villages, including Mar, Subdu, Yaro Lawanti, and Yaro Shuwari, where they cleared terrorist hideouts.
At Malam Shiri village, soldiers engaged the insurgents in a fierce battle, supported by precision air strikes.
“They used a well-coordinated strategy to defeat the terrorists, killing 11 and forcing others to escape with injuries,” he said.
Following the confrontation, troops destroyed the terrorists’ camps and recovered significant quantities of weapons and equipment. These included nine AK-47 rifles, three heavy machine guns, five motorcycles, and materials used for making explosives.
In a separate operation along the Wajiroko–Sabongari route in the Timbuktu axis, troops encountered another group of fighters and engaged them in combat, killing seven.
Uba noted that evidence at the scene indicated that more insurgents may have been injured or killed during the clash.
Additional items recovered from the area included rifles, rocket-propelled grenade tubes, ammunition, and communication equipment.
The military also acknowledged the critical role played by the Air Force, which provided surveillance and executed targeted strikes that supported the success of ground operations.
According to Uba, further air strikes were launched on confirmed terrorist positions and retreating fighters, leading to additional losses among the insurgents.
The operations form part of ongoing efforts to degrade terrorist capabilities and restore security across the North-East region.
