Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have killed no fewer than 50 ISWAP terrorists and recovered a large cache of weapons after repelling a coordinated, multi-axis assault on a military headquarters in Buni Gari in the early hours of Thursday, the military has said.
The Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI said the terrorists launched the attack at approximately 2:00 am under the cover of darkness, targeting the Headquarters 27 Brigade and the Buni Gari Checkpoint. The insurgents initially struck from the western flank before pushing additional fighters from the southern flank along the Ganinga Junction axis and later from the southwestern flank in a desperate attempt to encircle troops.
In a statement released Thursday by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for the headquarters of the Joint Task Force in North East Nigeria, troops held their ground with exceptional discipline and tactical composure. The soldiers employed indirect fires to attrit the enemy while executing an offensive-defensive battle that systematically degraded and dismantled the assault from all axes.
“The terrorists were met with such devastating resistance that they retreated in confusion, evacuating some of their killed and wounded as evidenced by trails of blood along their escape routes,” the statement read. “At no point was any part of the camp breached, as the integrity of the location remained fully intact throughout the engagement.”
The Air Component Command of Operation HADIN KAI played a decisive role, providing persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance coverage that enabled real-time situational awareness and accurate target acquisition. In a synchronized air-land operation, precision air interdiction strikes were conducted on confirmed terrorist positions and fleeing elements. Aircraft pursued retreating insurgents along their escape corridors, accounting for an additional 20 terrorists neutralized, according to human intelligence reports.
Exploitation of the general area confirmed the recovery of 10 terrorist corpses within the immediate vicinity. Human intelligence reports indicate that over 20 additional bodies were scattered across bushes around Gashua, Azare, and Kamuya along the terrorists’ withdrawal routes, the military said.
Items recovered from the engagement include eight AK-47 rifles, two General Purpose Machine Guns, two Rocket-Propelled Grenade tubes, five RPG bombs, three RPG chargers, two boxes of 7.62mm ammunition, two fully loaded magazines, nine bandoliers of 7.62mm ammunition, and three Improvised Explosive Device canisters.
The military noted that some equipment, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and gun-trucks, sustained minimal damage during the engagement. All wounded personnel are stable and receiving appropriate medical attention.
Two soldiers paid the supreme price during the engagement, the military confirmed, adding that their sacrifice embodies the highest traditions of service and courage. Troops, in conjunction with volunteer forces, are currently conducting aggressive exploitation operations across the general area to consolidate gains, track fleeing terrorists, and deny any attempt at regrouping.
“These failed attacks further underscore the growing desperation of terrorist elements who continue to suffer devastating losses under sustained operational pressure,” Lieutenant Colonel Uba said. Operation HADIN KAI remains resolute and battle-ready, maintaining operational dominance across the theatre and ensuring that terrorists are denied freedom of action in any part of the North East region.
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