Scores of terrorists have been killed, with blood trails and severed body parts littering two battlefields in northeastern Nigeria, after troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) conducted simultaneous coordinated offensives that destroyed major insurgent enclaves in the Timbuktu and Bulabulin forest areas, military authorities have confirmed.
The Joint Task Force (North East) announced that the operations, conducted under the ongoing Operation DESERT SANITY V, saw troops of Sector 2 engage terrorist elements in two separate but coordinated battles along the Azir Bridge (Timbuktu axis) and the Bulabulin Forest, with close air support from the Air Component Command of OPHK.
In the Bulabulin Forest axis, troops in conjunction with elements of the Sector 2 Stabilisation Force Brigade 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, ground forces made contact with the insurgents at Malam Shiri Village.
“We engaged the terrorists in a well-coordinated and tactical flanking manoeuvre,” a military source close to the operation told journalists. “Eleven terrorists were neutralised on the spot, and several others fled with varying degrees of injuries.
“All life support structures within the captured enclaves were subsequently destroyed. An exploitation of the area led to the recovery of nine AK-47 rifles, three PKT anti-aircraft automatic machine guns, five motorcycles, assorted ammunition, and several materials used for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).In the Timbuktu axis along the Wajiroko–Sabongari corridor, troops engaged terrorists with air support in a separate fierce encounter.
“Our troops, with resilience and tactical discipline, maintained their positions and decisively dealt with the terrorists,” the source added.Initial exploitation of that battlefield revealed seven neutralised terrorist bodies.
However, officials say extensive blood trails and scattered body parts found across the assault zone indicate significantly higher enemy casualties inflicted during the air-ground bombardment. Recovered items from the Timbuktu axis included AK-47 rifles, RPG tubes, a large cache of ammunition, bandoliers, and communication equipment.
The Air Component Command of OPHK played a decisive role in both engagements. A senior air force officer involved in the operation described the coordination.
“We provided persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) that enabled accurate target acquisition and real-time situational awareness for ground troops,” the officer said.
“Precision air interdiction strikes were subsequently conducted on confirmed terrorist positions and fleeing elements, further decimating scores of the insurgents.
It was a well-synchronised air-land offensive that completely overwhelmed the adversary.”Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, confirmed the successes in an official statement released on Wednesday.
“The troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI have continued to sustain offensive pressure against terrorist elements under Operation DESERT SANITY V,” Uba said.
“These successful engagements further reinforce OPHK’s growing operational effectiveness and sustained dominance across the Theatre.
“He added that troops, in conjunction with volunteer forces, are currently conducting aggressive follow-up exploitation operations along the Forfor, Multe, and Wajiroko axes.”We are consolidating gains, pursuing fleeing terrorists, and preventing any attempt at regrouping,” Uba stated.
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