Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in close coordination with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), have neutralised no fewer than 61 ISWAP terrorists during a failed infiltration attempt in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources involved in the operation said the insurgents launched the attack in the early hours of Wednesday, advancing on foot while deploying armed drones in a desperate bid to breach the defences of troops stationed at the 68 Battalion.
According to the sources, the assault, which came through the frontage of Bravo Company from the Duguri axis, was met with overwhelming firepower and strong coordination between ground troops and air components.
The troops, supported by precision air strikes, engaged the terrorists in a fierce battle, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers.
“Our forces executed four highly effective air interdiction strikes on identified enemy concentrations, decimating their fighting capability,” one of the sources said.
“The synergy between air and land forces denied the terrorists freedom of movement and forced a disorderly withdrawal towards the Arege area after suffering heavy losses.”
The sources further revealed that additional strike support from allied air assets of neighbouring Niger Republic intensified the pressure on the fleeing insurgents, although battle damage assessment from those operations is still ongoing.
On the side of the military, four soldiers sustained minor injuries during the encounter and have since been stabilised.
