By Nkechi Eze
In a display of exceptional courage and tactical superiority, troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have successfully repelled multiple coordinated terrorist attacks across several locations in the North East Joint Operations Area. The daring assaults, launched by the insurgents in the early hours of Thursday, 23 October 2025, targeted military positions in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko, spanning Sector 1 in Borno State and Sector 2 in Yobe State.
According to a statement by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the simultaneous attacks began between midnight and 4:00 a.m. but were met with fierce resistance by the gallant troops, who stood their ground and fought with remarkable professionalism. The troops not only repelled the onslaught but inflicted devastating casualties on the terrorists.
“The terrorists launched coordinated assaults on troops’ positions in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko. In all instances, troops stood firm, fought gallantly, and professionally repelled the attacks, dealing the terrorists a heavy, decisive, and bloody blow,” Lieutenant Colonel Uba stated.
The statement further revealed that the success of the operation was made possible through close coordination between ground forces and the Air Component Command of Operation Hadin Kai. Precision airstrikes, combined with real-time battlefield intelligence and enhanced surveillance from Theatre Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, provided troops with superior situational awareness and the firepower advantage to decimate the enemy formations.
The combined ground and aerial response led to the neutralisation of over 50 terrorists across all the targeted locations. Troops also recovered a large cache of weapons, including 38 AK-47 rifles, 7 PKT machine guns, 5 rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) tubes, 2 general-purpose machine guns (GPMGs), several hand grenades, and thousands of assorted belted and loose rounds of ammunition of various calibres. In addition, over 70 wounded insurgents were said to be on the run as troops continued aggressive pursuit operations supported by air assets.
Intelligence gathered after the engagements indicated that the terrorists who attacked Dikwa and Gajibo had infiltrated from the Cameroon axis, while those who launched assaults on Katarko emerged from the notorious Timbuktu Triangle, a long-standing terrorist enclave.
Lieutenant Colonel Uba confirmed that some gallant troops sustained injuries during the battle but were in stable condition and receiving medical attention. He also noted that some vehicles and structures were gutted by fire during the intense exchange, especially in Mafa and Dikwa, where part of the defensive lines was momentarily breached by the enemy’s use of armed drones and RPG fire before troops successfully restored control.
The Military High Command has since lauded the troops for their courage, resilience, and renewed fighting spirit in the face of multiple enemy attacks. It described their performance as another testament to the Nigerian military’s unwavering resolve and capacity to safeguard the nation’s territorial integrity against all threats.
The statement further assured that with the ongoing deployment of additional boots on the ground and the introduction of critical combat enablers into the theatre, the armed forces remain firmly on course to consolidate recent gains and ensure lasting peace in the North East.
