- Safiu Kehinde
No fewer than 38 suspected Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists have been neutralised by troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) in Maiduguri, Borno state.
The terrorists were reported to have launched attack in the earlyr hours of Saturday on FOB Mandaragirau base in Sector 2.
As disclosed in a statement issued by the Task Force Media Information Officer, Sani Uba, the troops counter-reacted with offensive-defensive response which forced the insurgents to retreat.
The troop’s response alongside air support from the Operation HADIN KAI’s Air Component however led to the death of 38 ISWAP members.
“Troops engaged the attackers with well-coordinated and deliberate offensive-defensive response that forced them into a disorderly withdrawal while the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI provided close air support to the troops and Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance ( ISR )feedbacks to enhance targeted kinetic responses.
“Subsequent exploitation along the terrorists’ withdrawal routes inflicted further heavy losses.
“A total of about 38 terrorists were neutralised with 8 bodies recovered so far within the immediate engagement area and human intelligence from locals confirming over 30 additional terrorists bodies and weapons strewn along Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis into the Timbuktu Triangle.
“This was evidenced by blood trails and abandoned equipment.” Uba wrote.
Recovered from the insurgents by the troops were seven AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, four RPG bombs and assorted ammunition.
While recording no fatalities, one MRAP was reportedly hit by RPG fire, with injured personnel promptly stabilised.
Uba disclosed that the scale of enemy losses had triggered widespread jubilation among local communities.
This, according to the military spokesperson. underscored the sustained dominance of OPHK troops in denying terrorists freedom of action.
He disclosed that further exploitation operations are ongoing along the Garin Mallum – Garin Gajere axis at the fringes of the Timbuktu Triangle to recover the littered terrorists corpses and consolidate gains.
The Military High Command commended the troops for their gallantry and resilience, urging them to sustain the operational tempo in the security interest of the North East region.