Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, have neutralised 12 terrorists in a fierce encounter along the Kirawa axis of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, recovering AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenade systems, ammunition and a PKT machine gun.
The insurgents, suspected to be fighters of Boko Haram/ISWAP, reportedly attempted to infiltrate military positions held by the 153 Task Force Battalion near the Nigeria–Cameroon border in the early hours of Friday, but were repelled after troops detected the movement and engaged them with superior firepower.
A military statement by the Theatre Command spokesperson, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, said the attackers launched what appeared to be a coordinated infiltration attempt but were swiftly confronted by alert troops and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
“The attack was swiftly detected and met with overwhelming firepower from alert troops and CJTF, who held their ground and contained the assault,” the statement said.
Following the intense gun battle, 12 terrorists were confirmed killed, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds. Troops reportedly traced bloodstains along withdrawal routes leading toward the Cameroon border, indicating significant enemy casualties.
The encounter took place within the Kirawa axis of Gwoza under Sector 1 of the Theatre Command’s Area of Responsibility.
According to the military, the surviving terrorists fled in disarray towards the Cameroon axis after failing to overrun the military position.
Uba added that intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, alongside air support platforms under Operation Hadin Kai and allied forces, provided coordinated backing throughout the operation.
He noted that the recovered weapons — including assault rifles, grenade launchers, machine gun systems and ammunition — had further degraded the combat capacity of the insurgents in the area.
The operation forms part of ongoing clearance efforts under Operation Hadin Kai and the broader Operation Desert Sanity and Siege Operations aimed at flushing out remnants of terrorist groups in the North-East theatre.
Military authorities say troops remain on high alert and are continuing exploitation operations along border communities to prevent regrouping of insurgent fighters.
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