Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) repelled terrorist attacks on multiple locations across the Joint Operations Area in the early hours of yesterday.
The media information officer, Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI. Lt-Col Sani Uba, said terrorists between midnight and 0400 hours launched coordinated assaults on troops’ positions in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko, in Sector 1 (Borno State) and Sector 2 (Yobe State), respectively.
He, however, said in all instances, troops stood firm, fought gallantly and professionally repelled the attacks, dealing the terrorists a heavy, decisive and bloody blow.
He added that the coordinated offensive response was supported by air platforms of the Air Component Command of OPHK.
According to him, the precision strikes and enhanced battlefield awareness provided by Theatre Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets gave troops additional leverage to respond with overwhelming and lethal force.
“The combined ground and air efforts resulted in the neutralisation of over 50 terrorists across all the locations,” he said.
Uba, in a press statement he issued yesterday, added that the troops recovered 38 AK-47 rifles, 7 PKT machine guns, 5 RPG tubes, two GPMGs and hand grenades along with thousands of assorted belted and loose rounds of different calibres.
“Additionally, over 70 of the wounded miscreants are still being pursued by ground troops supported by the Air Component in close coordination,” he stated.
The statement explained that intelligence revealed the terrorists who attacked Dikwa and Gajibo manoeuvred from the Cameroon axis. In contrast, those who attacked Katarko emerged from the Timbuktu Triangle, a known terrorist enclave.
He said that some gallant troops were wounded in action but were in stable condition.
“Some vehicles and buildings were also gutted by fire from the terrorists’ armed drones and RPG fire during the battle, especially in Mafa and Dikwa, where a part of the defences were momentarily breached,” he added.
The Military High Command commended the gallantry, doggedness and renewed charge of the troops.
