Nigerian troops repel suspected militant incursion in Borno State

By Zainab Uzomah

Troops of Nigeria’s Operation Hadin Kai have repelled an attempted incursion by suspected militants advancing from the Mandara Mountains into Bitta, in the country’s north-east, the military says.

The army said the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, when surveillance systems detected fighters moving towards the area. Troops reportedly waited until the group entered what the military described as an effective engagement range before opening fire.

According to a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, several militants were killed during the clash, including a commander and a cameraman believed to have been documenting the operation. As others tried to flee, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai carried out what it described as precision strikes, targeting retreating fighters and cutting off their escape routes.

After the fighting, soldiers searched the area and recovered weapons and equipment, including rifles, machine guns, ammunition, radios, mobile phones and motorcycles. The military also said it found blood trails and shallow graves, suggesting further casualties.

Nigeria’s north-east has been the epicentre of a 15-year insurgency led by Boko Haram and its splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions. The military says it is intensifying efforts to restore security and stability across the region.