By Nkechi Eze
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have decisively repelled a large-scale, coordinated terrorist attack on their positions in Mallam Fatori, Borno State, killing more than 80 insurgents, including key commanders.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Wednesday, saw fighters launch a simultaneous five-pronged assault on troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) at the 68 Battalion location in Sector 3. However, the troops, who had maintained full situational awareness, anticipated the attack and strategically prepared to counter it.
According to the Media Information Officer, Operation HADIN KAI, Sani Uba, the attackers advanced in large numbers on foot and deployed armed drones in an attempt to breach defensive positions, particularly along the frontage of Bravo Company from the Duguri axis.
“The terrorists, who advanced in large numbers on foot and deployed armed drones in a desperate bid to breach the defences of troops, were met with overwhelming resistance,” he said.
He added that troops executed a well-coordinated offensive-defensive operation, employing disciplined firepower and superior tactics to engage and rout the insurgents.
“Through coordinated manoeuvre and superior tactical execution, the attackers were engaged, disrupted and routed in disarray, with no fewer than 80 terrorists neutralised during the engagement,” Uba stated.
The ground assault was reinforced by precision close air support from the Nigerian Air Force and supported by allied Nigerien air assets, which conducted rapid strike missions on fleeing insurgents, further compounding their losses.
A subsequent sweep of the battlefield led to the recovery of a large cache of weapons and equipment, including 52 AK-47 rifles, eight PKT machine guns, seven RPG launchers, five General Purpose Machine Guns, over 3,000 rounds of ammunition, 21 RPG bombs, nine improvised explosive devices, communication radios, and components of armed drones used by the attackers.
Despite the scale of the confrontation, troop casualties were minimal, with four soldiers wounded in action and promptly stabilised.
Significantly, the operation also led to the elimination of three high-profile terrorist commanders—Mallam Abdulrahman Gobara, Mallam Ba Yuram and Abou Ayyuba—alongside several other fighters identified during the engagement.
Military authorities described the outcome as a major operational setback for terrorist elements in the region, noting that the loss of key commanders has severely disrupted their command structure and fighting capability.
The success, they said, underscores the growing combat effectiveness and resilience of Operation HADIN KAI forces, while countering claims of setbacks within the theatre.
“The failed attack clearly contradicts recent misleading propaganda suggesting that troops are overwhelmed. On the contrary, troops remain firmly in control of all locations,” the statement added.
The military reassured residents that security in Mallam Fatori and surrounding communities remains under firm control, urging the public to remain vigilant and disregard unverified reports aimed at undermining ongoing operations.
