Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, OPHK), have neutralised 12 terrorists and recovered a cache of arms after foiling an attempted attack on military positions along the Kirawa axis, Borno.
This is contained in a statement by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, on Saturday.
Uba said the attack occurred on Friday, when suspected terrorists attempted to infiltrate troops’ locations held by 153 Task Force Battalion and supporting units along Nigeria–Cameroon border corridor.
He said the attackers were swiftly detected and engaged with superior firepower by alert troops and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), forcing them to withdraw in disarray.
Uba added that intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, alongside the Air Component of OPHK, provided coordinated support during the operation.
“Following the encounter, troops confirmed the neutralisation of 12 terrorists, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds, with blood trails observed along their withdrawal routes.
“Recovered items include AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenade systems, a PKT machine gun, and assorted ammunition, further degrading the terrorists’ combat capability in the area.
“Troops have since maintained their positions with heightened vigilance while follow-up exploitation operations continue to track fleeing elements and recover additional materiel,” he said.
Uba said the military high command had commended the troops for their gallantry and swift response, urging them to sustain operational pressure against terrorist groups across the theatre.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the theatre command to ensuring the complete neutralisation of terrorist elements and the restoration of security across the North East.