Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, have repelled a major assault by suspected ISWAP fighters on military positions in Buni Gari, killing no fewer than 50 terrorists and recovering a large cache of weapons and ammunition.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday, May 8, when heavily armed insurgents launched coordinated assaults on the Headquarters of 27 Brigade and the Buni Gari checkpoint from multiple directions.
According to a statement shared on the Nigerian Army’s Facebook on Saturday by the Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lt. Sani Uba, the terrorists attacked at about 2:00 a.m. under the cover of darkness, advancing from the western, southern and south-western flanks in what appeared to be an attempt to overwhelm and encircle troops.
The military said soldiers responded with “devastating firepower” and successfully repelled the assault without allowing the insurgents to breach the camp.
“The terrorists were met with overwhelming resistance and suffered catastrophic losses.
“At no point was any part of the camp breached, as the integrity of the location remained fully intact throughout the engagement,” the statement said.
It was gathered that troops reportedly deployed indirect fire and offensive-defensive tactics to repel the attackers, forcing them to retreat while evacuating some of their dead and wounded.
Blood trails were reportedly discovered along the insurgents’ withdrawal routes.
The military said exploitation operations conducted after the battle led to the recovery of 10 bodies around the immediate area, while intelligence reports indicated that more than 20 additional bodies were discovered in surrounding bushes near Gashua, Azare and Kamuya.
The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI also played a key role during the operation by providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support.
Precision air strikes targeted fleeing insurgents along escape corridors, with military authorities claiming that an additional 20 terrorists were killed during the aerial bombardments.
READ ALSO: PICTORIAL: Troops Rescue 32 Kidnap Victims, Kill Two Terrorists, Recover Arms In Katsina
Recovered items included eight AK-47 rifles, two General Purpose Machine Guns, two Rocket-Propelled Grenade launchers, five RPG bombs, ammunition boxes, loaded magazines, bandoliers and three Improvised Explosive Device canisters.
The military described the recovered weapons as evidence of the scale and intent of the failed assault.
Troops and local volunteer forces are continuing clearance and pursuit operations across the area to prevent surviving insurgents from regrouping.
The military, however, confirmed that two soldiers were killed during the encounter, while some Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and gun trucks sustained minor damage.
“All wounded personnel are stable and receiving appropriate medical attention,” the statement added.
Operation HADIN KAI said the failed attack demonstrated the increasing pressure being mounted on terrorist groups operating in the North-East and reaffirmed the military’s commitment to maintaining operational dominance across the region.
