Troops Kill 18 Terrorists, Destroy Enclaves in Borno Forest Operations

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have intensified offensive operations against terrorist groups under Operation DESERT SANITY V, killing at least 18 insurgents and destroying several terrorist enclaves in the Timbuktu and Bulabulin forest areas of Borno State.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the successful operations were carried out in two separate but coordinated engagements involving troops of Sector 2, supported by the Air Component Command of OPHK.

The military said the first operation was conducted along the Bulabulin Forest axis, where troops of Sector 2, working alongside elements of Sector 2 Stabilisation Force Brigade and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), cleared terrorist hideouts at Mar, Subdu, Yaro Lawanti, Yaro Shuwari, and other surrounding areas linked to the Bulabulin Forest and the Kamadogu Yobe stretch.

During the operation, troops made contact with terrorists at Malam Shiri Village and engaged them in what was described as a coordinated tactical flanking manoeuvre, with support from air assault platforms.

The operation resulted in the neutralisation of 11 terrorists, while several others fled with varying degrees of injuries.

The statement added that all identified life support structures used by the insurgents were destroyed, while troops recovered nine AK-47 rifles, three PKT anti-aircraft automatic machine guns, five motorcycles, assorted ammunition, and materials used for manufacturing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

In a similar operation at the Timbuktu axis along the Wajiroko–Sabongari corridor, troops also engaged terrorists with support from the Nigerian Air Force under the Air Component Command of OPHK.

Military authorities said troops maintained their positions with resilience and tactical discipline, successfully neutralising seven terrorists during the encounter.

Further exploitation of the area revealed blood trails and body parts, suggesting additional casualties among the fleeing insurgents.

Recovered items from the operation included AK-47 rifles, RPG tubes, a large cache of ammunition, bandoliers, and communication equipment.

The statement noted that the Air Component Command played a decisive role in both operations by providing persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), which enabled accurate target identification and real-time situational awareness for ground troops.

It added that precision air interdiction strikes were carried out on confirmed terrorist positions and fleeing elements, leading to further losses for the insurgents and ensuring the success of the coordinated air-land assault.

Troops, alongside volunteer forces, are currently conducting follow-up exploitation operations along the Forfor, Multe, and Wajiroko axes to consolidate gains, pursue fleeing terrorists, and prevent any regrouping by the terrorists.

The military said the latest successes further demonstrate Operation HADIN KAI’s growing operational effectiveness and sustained dominance across the North-East theatre of operation.