Troops of Operation Hadin Kai of the Nigerian Army have killed more than 25 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists who launched a “coordinated multi-directional assault” in Kukawa, Borno state.

Mohammed Goni, acting military information officer at the headquarters of the joint task force (north-east) Operation Hadin Kai, in a statement issued on Wednesday,   said some soldiers also paid the supreme price during the encounter.

“The terrorists, who attacked troops of 101 Special Forces Battalion in large numbers from four different flanks, met stiff resistance as the troops responded decisively with superior firepower, tactical manoeuvre and effective battlefield coordination,” the statement reads.

“Supported by the Air Component, the troops overwhelmed the terrorists, inflicted heavy casualties and forced the surviving elements to flee in disarray.

“Preliminary assessment indicates that over 25 terrorists were neutralised, with 14 bodies recovered so far.

“During exploitation of the area, troops recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including six AK-47 rifles.

“Further exploitation is ongoing to recover additional weapons, track the fleeing terrorists and prevent them from regrouping.

“Regrettably, some gallant soldiers paid the supreme sacrifice during the encounter.”

While sending condolences to the families of the slain soldiers, Goni said, “their courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty will remain an enduring testament to their service to the nation.”

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More than 18 terrorists have been neutralised in strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), while several logistics hubs at Tumbunma Baba in the Tumbuns general area of Borno State were destroyed.

According to a statement by the military on Friday, the operation, conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in coordination with ground troops of Sector 1, followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance,

The Military Information Officer of OPHK, Capt. Mohammed Goni, said intelligence had indicated the presence of high-profile terrorist elements using the islands as meeting points and logistics nodes.

He said further surveillance and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations conducted from Wednesday, September 9, pinpointed several terrorist structures and logistics hubs in the area.

According to him, the intelligence-led operation culminated in kinetic strikes in the early hours of Friday, September 11, after the targets were positively identified.

“Following positive identification of the targets, the air platforms acquired and engaged the designated locations with precision munitions, with ground troops occupying all likely escape routes for further direct fire engagements,” he said.

Goni said the strikes destroyed the targeted structures and “neutralised over 18 terrorist elements”, disrupting terrorist activities and degrading their ability to use the enclave as a gathering and support base.

He said post-strike assessment indicated an estimated 85 per cent success in achieving the intended operational objectives.

The operation, he said, underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations, timely ISR confirmation and the coordinated employment of air assets in synergy with ground troops.

Goni said OPHK would continue to work with other security agencies and stakeholders to deny terrorists the freedom to operate, regroup or establish logistics and support infrastructure across the North East.

“Working in concert with all security agencies and stakeholders, OPHK will continue to conduct intelligence-driven operations to deny terrorist elements the freedom to operate, regroup or establish logistics and support infrastructure across the Theatre,” he said.