By Nkechi Eze
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully foiled a coordinated terrorist attack on Kukareta in the early hours of April 23, 2026, killing scores of insurgents and recovering a large cache of weapons.
According to an official signed statement by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the attack began shortly after midnight and lasted until about 3:00 a.m., but was swiftly countered by troops under Sector 2.
Lieutenant Colonel Uba disclosed that vigilant troops mounted a coordinated offensive-defensive response, effectively containing the assault and forcing the attackers into a chaotic retreat.
During the engagement, troops inflicted heavy losses on the terrorists, with 24 insurgents confirmed neutralised. He added that ongoing exploitation of the battlefield has led to the recovery of a substantial cache of arms and ammunition.
Items recovered include 18 AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), two PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns, three Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tubes, two mortar tubes, four hand grenades, 18 AK-47 magazines, and large quantities of belted 7.62mm ammunition for PKT systems.
The statement further noted that two soldiers sustained injuries during the encounter and have since been stabilised, while one reinforcing armoured vehicle was damaged after all its tyres were blown out in the course of the firefight.
Lieutenant Colonel Uba said exploitation operations are ongoing to track fleeing terrorists, with blood trails and abandoned medical supplies indicating significant enemy casualties along their withdrawal routes.
He emphasised that the successful operation underscores the resilience, combat readiness, and firepower of OPHK troops in denying terrorists freedom of action across the theatre.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations aimed at consolidating gains and decisively defeating all terrorist elements within the Joint Operations Area.
