Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have recorded significant operational successes against Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (BH/ISWAP) terrorists along the Sambisa Forest and Mandara Mountains axis.
The operations, conducted under Operation DESERT SANITY V on Thursday, followed an attempted ambush by insurgents using roadside improvised explosive devices (RSIEDs) and heavy gunfire.
The Media Information Officer, HQs Joint Task Force, Lt. Sani Uba, disclosed this in a statement shared on the Nigerian Army’s Facebook page on Thursday night.
Troops of Sector 1 OPHK responded swiftly with superior firepower, overwhelming the terrorists and neutralising 10 insurgents, including two senior commanders identified as Basulhu and Ubaida.
A follow-up pursuit and exploitation of the area led to the recovery of a cache of arms, ammunition, and logistics.
Items recovered include three AK-47 rifles, one pump-action rifle, five motorcycles, two hand grenades, two Baofeng radios, 12 AK-47 magazines, a rocket-propelled grenade charger, detonation cords, batteries, bandoliers, camel bags, iron bars, and other IED-making accessories.
In a separate operation around the Malkube area, Sector 1 troops made further contact with fleeing terrorists, resulting in the neutralisation of two additional insurgents.
Several AK-47 rifles, ammunition, and communication devices were recovered during the encounter, with no casualties recorded among friendly forces.
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Earlier in the day, another battle group from Sector 1 engaged Boko haram/ISWAP elements attempting to infiltrate Nigerian territory from Cameroon near Galakura.
The terrorists were forced to withdraw in disarray, abandoning equipment and supplies.
Subsequent exploitation of the area yielded additional items, including two motorcycles, further restricting the terrorists’ freedom of action.
The Military said troop morale and combat efficiency remain high, adding that sustained offensive operations will continue across the North East region to deny terrorists safe havens.
The Military High Command has commended the troops for their gallantry and professionalism, urging them to maintain the current operational spirit.
