By Sabiu Abdullahi
Troops under the Joint Task Force, North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have eliminated 38 ISWAP fighters during a military operation in Borno State.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba. He said the incident occurred on Saturday morning.
According to the statement, the insurgents launched an attack on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Mandaragirau, located in Sector 2 of the state. However, the troops resisted the assault and gained the upper hand.
The military explained that its personnel responded with coordinated ambushes and a combined offensive and defensive strategy. This forced the attackers to retreat in disarray.
Air support also played a role in the operation. The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI provided close assistance, which improved the precision of strikes against the fleeing insurgents.
“Subsequent exploitation along the terrorists’ withdrawal routes inflicted further heavy losses.
“A total of about 38 terrorists were neutralized with 8 bodies recovered so far within the immediate engagement area and human intelligence from locals confirming over 30 additional terrorists’ bodies and weapons strewn along Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis into the Timbuktu Triangle.
“This was evidenced by blood trails and abandoned equipment. Troops also recovered 7 AK-47 rifles, 8 magazines, 4 RPG bombs and assorted ammunition, while recording no fatalities; one MRAP was hit by RPG fire, with injured personnel promptly stabilized.
“The scale of enemy losses has triggered widespread jubilation among local communities and highlights the sustained dominance of OPHK troops in denying terrorists freedom of action,” the statement added.
The military noted that the operation has boosted morale among residents in the affected communities, as troops continue efforts to restrict the activities of insurgents in the region.