Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised 18 terrorists and recovered a large cache of ammunition and weapons along the Azir Bridge in Timbuktu axis and Bulabulin Forest in Borno state.
The Media Information Officer, Northeast Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Col Sani Uba, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said 11 of the terrorists were killed in Bulabulin Forest while seven were neutralised in the Timbuktu axis.
He said the two coordinated operations were conducted by Sector 2 in close coordination with the Air Component Command of OPHK.
He said, “On the Bulabulin Forest axis, troops of Sector 2 OPHK in conjunction with elements of Stabilisation Force of Sector 2 and the Civilian Joint Task Force cleared terrorist enclaves at Mar, Subdu, Yaro Lawanti, and Yaro Shuwari, as well as other areas contiguous to the Bulabulin Forest and the Kamadogu Yobe stretch.
“During the operation, supported by assault air platforms from the Air Component Command, the troops made contact at Malam Shiri Village and engaged the terrorists in a well-coordinated and tactical flanking manoeuvre, neutralising 11 terrorists and forcing others to flee with varying degrees of injuries.
All life support structures, according to him, were subsequently destroyed, and exploitation of the area led to the recovery of 9 AK-47 rifles, 3 PKT anti-aircraft automatic machine guns, 5 motorcycles, assorted ammunition, and several materials used for Improvised Explosive Devices.
He noted that similarly, at the Timbuktu axis along the Wajiroko Sabongari corridor, troops had further operations with the terrorists, supported by the Air Component Command of OPHK.
“The troops with resilience and tactical discipline, maintained positions and decisively dealt with the terrorists. Subsequent exploitation revealed 7 neutralised terrorists, with additional blood trails and body parts indicating significantly higher enemy casualties during the assault,” he stated
He listed the recovered items to include AK-47 rifles, RPG tubes, a large cache of ammunition, bandoliers, and communication equipment.
“The Air Component Command of OPHK played a very crucial and decisive role in both engagements, providing persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance that enabled accurate target acquisition and real-time situational awareness for ground troops coordinated fire,” he added.
Uba stressed that precision air interdiction strikes were subsequently conducted by the aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force on confirmed terrorist positions and fleeing elements, further decimating scores of the insurgents and ensuring the success of a well–synchronised air–land offensive that overwhelmed the adversary.
Furthermore, he noted that troops, in conjunction with volunteer forces, are currently conducting aggressive follow-up exploitation operations along the Forfor, Multe, and Wajiroko axes to consolidate gains, pursue fleeing terrorists, and prevent any attempt at regrouping.
“These successful engagements further reinforce OPHK’s growing operational effectiveness and sustained dominance across the battlespace,” he added.
Uba noted that the military high command commended the troops for their gallantry and resilience while urging them to sustain the operational tempo.
Army kills 18 terrorists in Borno, recovers weapons
