Nigerian troops under Operation Hadin Kai have killed 18 suspected terrorists during coordinated military operations in Borno State, with several weapons and equipment recovered.
According to a statement by Lt Col Sani Uba, spokesperson for the Joint Task Force in the North-East, the operations were carried out in Bulabulin Forest and along the Timbuktu axis.
He explained that 11 terrorists were neutralised in Bulabulin, while seven were killed during a separate operation in the Timbuktu area.
The military said ground forces worked in collaboration with the Air Force during the missions, targeting known hideouts across several communities, including Mar, Subdu, Yaro Lawanti, and Yaro Shuwari.
In Bulabulin Forest, troops, supported by air strikes, engaged fighters in Malam Shiri village.
“They used a well-coordinated strategy to defeat the terrorists, killing 11 and forcing others to escape with injuries,” Uba said.
Following the encounter, troops destroyed several camps and recovered weapons, including nine AK-47 rifles, three heavy machine guns, five motorcycles, and materials used in the fabrication of explosives.
In a separate engagement along the Wajiroko–Sabongari axis, troops clashed with insurgents and killed seven more fighters. The military said evidence at the scene indicated additional casualties among the fleeing terrorists.
Recovered items from the second location included rifles, rocket-propelled grenade tubes, ammunition, and communication devices.
The statement also highlighted the role of the Air Force, noting that surveillance and precision air strikes were critical to the success of the operations.
Uba added that further air operations were conducted on escaping terrorists and identified positions, leading to additional losses for the insurgents.
