Dozens killed as Nigerian troops attack terrorists, 38 bodies recovered

Scores killed as Nigerian troops attack terrorists, 38 bodies recovered

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have repelled a coordinated terrorist attack on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Mandaragirau, Borno State, killing dozens of insurgents and recovering a cache of weapons.

The military said the early morning assault on Saturday was successfully foiled without any fatality on the side of its personnel, despite intense engagement with the attackers.

In a statement, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North East), Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, disclosed that the terrorists launched the attack in the early hours but were met with “a decisive and coordinated response” from troops on ground.

According to him, the military deployed a combination of ambush tactics and offensive-defensive manoeuvres, forcing the insurgents to retreat under heavy fire.

“The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI provided close air support and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), enabling precise targeting of the fleeing terrorists,” he said.

Uba added that follow-up operations along the terrorists’ withdrawal routes inflicted further casualties, bringing the total number of those neutralised to about 38.

He noted that while eight bodies were recovered at the immediate scene of the encounter, intelligence from local sources indicated that over 30 additional bodies were sighted along the Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis extending into the Timbuktu Triangle.

“Blood trails and abandoned equipment further confirmed the scale of losses suffered by the terrorists,” he stated.

Recovered items from the operation include seven AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, four Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) bombs, and assorted ammunition.

Although one Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle was struck by RPG fire during the clash, the military said affected personnel were promptly stabilised, with no fatalities recorded.

The operation has reportedly boosted morale among residents of surrounding communities, who have expressed relief over the military’s sustained pressure on insurgents in the region.

Uba said troops are continuing exploitation operations along the affected corridors to recover more weapons and bodies, while consolidating gains in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign.