Security forces under the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, have killed 18 terrorists during a series of coordinated offensives along the border between Borno and Yobe states.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba.
He explained that the encounters took place during Operation Desert Sanity V. The operations targeted terrorist hideouts in Mar, Subdu, Yaro Lawanti, and Yaro Shuwari. Other locations included areas around the Bulabulin Forest and the Kamadogu Yobe corridor.
Uba stated that troops from Sector 2 carried out the mission alongside members of the Stabilisation Force and the Civilian Joint Task Force. Air support also played a key role during the exercise.
According to him, the Air Component Command provided constant Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). This support helped troops to identify targets accurately and coordinate effectively with ground units.
“On the Bulabulin Forest axis, troops made contact with the terrorists at Malam Shiri village and engaged them using coordinated tactical manoeuvres. Eleven terrorists were neutralised, while several others fled with injuries,” he said.
He further disclosed that troops dismantled key facilities used by the terrorists. Security operatives also recovered nine AK-47 rifles, three PKT anti-aircraft machine guns, five motorcycles, ammunition, and items used in making improvised explosive devices.
In another operation along the Timbuktu axis within the Wajiroko–Sabongari route, troops clashed with insurgents in a separate encounter.
Uba said seven terrorists were killed during the fight. He added that signs found at the scene indicated that more casualties may have occurred among the fleeing fighters.
