Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – Troops from the Nigerian Army’s Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully repelled a series of coordinated assaults by suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP militants in several towns across Borno State, military officials have confirmed.
In a statement released on Friday, the military revealed that its forces came under attack in the early hours of the morning at locations including Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Mainok. The insurgents launched the offensive between approximately 10:30 p.m. and 3:00 a.m., attempting to overrun defensive positions.
However, the assault was met with stiff resistance. According to Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the operation’s Media Information Officer, troops held their ground and executed well-coordinated flanking manoeuvres alongside reinforcement teams from Sectors 1 and 2.
The intense firefights saw the attackers forced into a “disorganised withdrawal.” In instances where militant fighters briefly breached sections of the perimeter, troops launched immediate counter-attacks and regained full control of the positions.
During the engagement, several senior terrorist commanders, described as key Amirs (Leaders), were neutralised alongside a number of fighters.
In support of the ground offensive, the Nigerian Air Force conducted multiple precision air strikes overnight, targeting fleeing insurgents and their hideouts. The strikes are said to have further degraded the militants’ fighting capability.
While all bases remain firmly under military control and exploitation operations are ongoing to recover weapons and equipment, the confrontation came at a cost. Lt. Col. Uba confirmed that a number of soldiers paid the ultimate price in the line of duty, including a gallant officer who was leading his troops from the front. Some structures within the locations also sustained damage during the heavy exchange of fire.
The military described the failed attempt as a sign of the “increasing desperation” of terrorist elements who are under sustained pressure across the theatre of operation.
Operation HADIN KAI reiterated that it remains in firm control of the battlespace as clearance operations continue in the affected areas.
