Terrorists Leaders Killed as Troops Foil Night Raids in Borno

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have repelled coordinated attacks by suspected Islamist terrorist on several military locations in Borno State, killing a number of insurgent fighters, including senior commanders.

In a statement signed by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North East), Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the attacks targeted military positions in Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok between about 22:30 and 03:00 on Friday.

The military said the assaults were met with strong resistance from troops who held their positions despite what it described as intense fighting.

Reinforcement teams from different operational sectors carried out flanking manoeuvres that forced the attackers to retreat in disarray. In some areas where parts of the defensive perimeter were briefly breached, troops launched counter-attacks and regained full control of their positions.

The military said several insurgent leaders, including key commanders, were killed during the clashes, while other fighters were also eliminated during the counter-offensive.

Air strikes carried out by the Nigerian Air Force during the night targeted fleeing militants and suspected hideouts, further weakening the group’s fighting capacity.

Ground troops are continuing search operations in the affected areas, with the recovery of bodies, weapons and other equipment underway.

However, the military said a number of soldiers were killed during the fighting, including an officer who died while leading his troops.

Operation Hadin Kai said it remains in control of the affected locations and described the attacks as a sign of increasing pressure on militant groups operating in the region.