Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have crushed a massive overnight assault by suspected ISWAP terrorists on military formations in Buni Gari, Yobe State, killing no fewer than 50 insurgents in a fierce gun battle supported by precision airstrikes.
The dramatic confrontation, which lasted for hours in the early hours of Thursday, saw heavily armed terrorists launch coordinated attacks from multiple directions on the Headquarters 27 Brigade and the Buni Gari Checkpoint.
The Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, said the terrorists attacked around 2am under the cover of darkness in what appeared to be a desperate bid to overwhelm troops stationed in the area.
Uba said the attackers stormed the military locations from the western flank before reinforcing their assault through the Ganinga Junction axis and the south-western corridor in an attempt to encircle troops.
He noted that the soldiers responded with “devastating firepower, tactical brilliance and resolute determination,” forcing the terrorists into a chaotic retreat after suffering heavy casualties.
According to him, troops employed indirect fire and offensive-defensive tactics that systematically dismantled the coordinated assault from all directions.
Uba added that the terrorists fled with several dead and wounded fighters, leaving blood trails along their escape routes, while troops maintained full control of the military camp throughout the battle.
“At no point was any part of the camp breached, as the integrity of the location remained fully intact throughout the engagement,” he stated.
The army spokesman disclosed that exploitation operations conducted after the encounter led to the recovery of at least 10 terrorist corpses around the immediate vicinity of the base, while intelligence sources confirmed that more than 20 additional bodies were discovered across bushes around Gashua, Azare and Kamuya along the insurgents’ withdrawal paths.
Uba further said the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI played a decisive role in the operation by providing real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support.
He stated that fighter aircraft carried out precision interdiction strikes on confirmed terrorist positions and retreating insurgents, eliminating an additional 20 terrorists during the pursuit operation.
“The synchronised air-land operation further underscored the magnitude of the defeat inflicted on the terrorists,” Uba added.
Security forces also recovered a large cache of weapons and explosives from the fleeing insurgents, including eight AK-47 rifles, two General Purpose Machine Guns, two Rocket-Propelled Grenade tubes, five RPG bombs, three RPG chargers, ammunition boxes, loaded magazines, bandoliers and three Improvised Explosive Device canisters.
Uba said troops, supported by volunteer forces, have continued aggressive exploitation operations across the general area to track fleeing terrorists and prevent any regrouping attempt.
He, however, confirmed that two soldiers lost their lives during the intense confrontation.
Uba described the fallen personnel as gallant troops who paid the supreme price in defence of the nation, noting that their sacrifice reflected courage, patriotism and unwavering commitment to national security.
He maintained that the failed assault highlighted the growing desperation of terrorist groups facing sustained military pressure across the North-East theatre.
Operation HADIN KAI, he said, remains battle-ready and committed to denying terrorists freedom of action in any part of the region.
