Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Joint Task Force North East, have repelled a major terrorist attack on their Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Kangar, Mallam Fatori, Borno State, killing several Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents in a fierce confrontation.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday around 4:30 a.m., saw the insurgents deploy armed drones and mortar fire in a coordinated offensive against the base. However, the soldiers, reinforced by the Battalion’s Main Force under Sector 3, fought back gallantly and successfully thwarted the assault.
According to a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for Operation HADIN KAI, the troops demonstrated “exceptional gallantry and tactical superiority,” engaging the terrorists in an intense gun battle. They were also supported by close air support from Nigerien Fighter Ground Attack aircraft.
Faced with superior firepower and coordination from the joint force, the terrorists reportedly fled into the Tumbuns waterways, dragging away several of their casualties.
A mop-up operation after the encounter led to the recovery of significant weapons and equipment, including five AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, 258 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, five RPG bombs, four armed drone bombs, five hand grenades, two bandoliers, and one Android phone.
Follow-up air interdictions by the Nigerian Air Force, working jointly with their Nigerien counterparts, reportedly neutralized more fleeing terrorists.
While a few personnel from the Joint Task Force and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) sustained minor injuries during the clash, all have been evacuated for treatment and are in stable condition. The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) also provided Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) support to enhance ground operations.
Lieutenant Colonel Uba added that exploitation operations are ongoing in the waterways and surrounding areas to track and eliminate remaining terrorists. He further commended the troops’ resilience and professionalism, reaffirming the military’s commitment to restoring lasting peace and security in the North East.
> “The Military High Command commends the gallant troops for their courage and professionalism in the face of adversity,” the statement concluded.
