Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI have repelled a coordinated attack by ISWAP terrorists on Headquarters 27 Brigade and the Buni Gari Checkpoint in Yobe State, neutralising no fewer than 50 insurgents during the fierce battle.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday when heavily armed terrorists launched assaults from multiple directions under the cover of darkness.
According to the Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the terrorists attacked from the western flank before reinforcing from the southern and south-western axes in an attempt to encircle troops.
He said the troops responded with “devastating firepower, tactical brilliance and resolute determination,” successfully holding their positions and preventing any breach of the camp.
The troops employed indirect fire and offensive-defensive tactics to repel the attackers, inflicting heavy casualties on the terrorists who later fled in confusion, abandoning weapons and equipment.
Lieutenant Colonel Uba disclosed that no fewer than 50 terrorists were neutralised during the operation, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds.
He said exploitation of the area led to the recovery of 10 terrorist corpses around the camp, while intelligence reports indicated that more than 20 additional bodies were discovered along withdrawal routes around Gashua, Azare and Kamuya.
The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI also played a major role in the operation by providing Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance support as well as precision airstrikes on fleeing insurgents.
According to the statement, the air interdiction missions accounted for the neutralisation of an additional 20 terrorists during the pursuit operation.
Items recovered from the terrorists include eight AK-47 rifles, two General Purpose Machine Guns, two Rocket-Propelled Grenade tubes, five RPG bombs, three RPG chargers, boxes of 7.62mm ammunition, loaded magazines, bandoliers of ammunition and three Improvised Explosive Device canisters.
Troops and volunteer forces are currently carrying out exploitation operations across the area to track fleeing insurgents and prevent any regrouping attempt.
The military, however, confirmed that two soldiers lost their lives during the engagement, while some Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and gun trucks sustained minimal damage.
The wounded personnel are receiving medical treatment and are reported to be in stable condition.
Operation HADIN KAI said the failed attack further demonstrates the desperation of terrorist elements facing sustained military pressure across the North-East theatre.
