- Safiu Kehinde
No fewer than 17 suspects have been neutralised with cache of firearms recovered by troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) during raids on terrorists’ enclaves in Borno state.
In continued effort to sustain offensive pressure against terrorist elements, the troops under Operation DESERT SANITY V, launched two separate but coordinated engagements involving troops of Sector 2 in the Azir Bridge (Timbuktu axis) and Bulabulin Forest areas in close coordination with the Air Component Command of OPHK.
The coordinated offensive attacks on terrorists’ enclaves in Mar, Subdu, Yaro Lawanti and Yaro Shuwari saw the troops neutralised 11 suspected terrorists with several others sustaining varying degrees of injuries.
This was made known statement issued on Wednesday by the North East Joint Task Force spokesperson, Lt. Col. Uba Snani.
According the Sani, the suspected terrorists were neutralised by the troops at the Malam Shiri Village where a cache of firearms was recovered after the operation.
“On the Bulabulin Forest axis, troops of Sector 2 in conjunction with elements of Sector 2 Stabilisation Force Brigade and the Civilian Joint Task Force cleared terrorist enclaves at Mar, Subdu, Yaro Lawanti and Yaro Shuwari as well as other areas contiguous to the Bulabulin Forest and the Kamadogu Yobe stretch.
“During the operation, supported by assault air platforms from the Air Component Command, the troops made contact at Malam Shiri Village and engaged the terrorists in a well-coordinated and tactical flanking manoeuvre, neutralising 11 terrorists and forcing others to flee with varying degrees of injuries.
“All life support structures were subsequently destroyed and exploitation of the area led to the recovery of 9 AK-47 rifles, 3 PKT anti-aircraft automatic machine guns, five motorcycles, assorted ammunition, and several materials used for Improvised Explosive Devices, thereby significantly disrupting the terrorist logistics and operational capability within the axis.” The statement partly read.
In a similar development at the Timbuktu axis along the Wajiroko Sabongari corridor, troops had further engagements with the terrorists with air support from the Air Component Command of OPHK.
The troops with resilience and tactical discipline, maintained positions and decisively dealt with the terrorists.
Subsequent exploitation revealed an additional seven neutralised terrorists, with further blood trails and body parts spotted ijn the area indicating significantly higher enemy casualties during the assault.
Recovered items include AK-47 rifles, RPG tubes, a large cache of ammunition, bandoliers, and communication equipment.
Meanwhile, Sani acknowledged the Air Component Command of OPHK who, according to the task force spoksperson, played a very crucial and decisive role in both engagements, providing persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR).
This enabled accurate target acquisition and real-time situational awareness for ground troops coordinated fire.
Sani maintained that the air interdiction strikes were subsequently conducted by the NAF aircrafts on confirmed terrorist positions and fleeing elements, further decimating scores of the insurgents and ensuring the success of a well synchronised air–land offensive that overwhelmed the adversary.
Meanwhile, the troops, in conjunction with volunteer forces, are currently conducting aggressive follow-up exploitation operations along the Forfor, Multe, and Wajiroko axes to consolidate gains, pursue fleeing terrorists, and prevent any attempt at regrouping.
These successful engagements, according to the statement, further reinforce OPHK’s growing operational effectiveness and sustained dominance across the Theatre.