By Nkechi Eze
In a decisive joint operation by the ground troops and Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), coordinated assaults by terrorists on military positions in Buratai, Biu Local Government Area, and Mallam Fatori in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State were successfully repelled on Thursday, 5 June 2025. The failed attacks resulted in the neutralisation of scores of terrorists and the recovery of a substantial cache of arms and ammunition.
In an official signed statement, the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Reuben Kovangiya, disclosed that the attempted assault on Buratai occurred in the early hours of the morning when insurgents launched a deceitful multi-pronged infiltration on the troops’ defensive positions. However, alert troops swiftly responded with superior firepower, while the Air Component of OPHK provided sustained close air support to repel the attackers.
Following the firefight, troops recovered several lifeless bodies of terrorists and a large cache of assorted weapons. Captain Kovangiya confirmed that the area is currently being cleared and exploited by the troops, with operations ongoing to locate and destroy any surviving elements of the terrorist group.
In a similar development, troops stationed at Mallam Fatori also repelled another coordinated attack by insurgents who attempted to breach the military perimeter from multiple directions. The terrorists were met with a fierce response from the gallant troops who, with the support of the Air Component Command (ACC), unleashed sustained firepower that forced the assailants to retreat in disarray.
According to the statement, the determined troops pursued the fleeing terrorists, engaging them in a prolonged gun battle which resulted in the elimination of several insurgents, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
Preliminary findings from both engagements revealed the recovery of multiple AK-47 rifles, General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), and other combat equipment used by the terrorists. The ongoing exploitation of the operational area is being supported by aerial surveillance from the Nigerian Army’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Command, in conjunction with Air Component platforms.
Captain Kovangiya emphasized that these coordinated responses once again underscore the effectiveness of joint operations in denying terrorists the freedom of action and disrupting their capabilities within the North East theatre.
He assured that Operation HADIN KAI remains resolute in its mission to rid the region of all terrorist threats, restore peace, and guarantee the safety of all law-abiding citizens.
