Troops of the Nigerian military have repelled a coordinated insurgent attack in Malam Fatori, eliminating at least 61 terrorists in a fierce overnight operation that underscores ongoing efforts to restore security in the North-East.
The operation, carried out by the Nigerian Army under Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force, targeted fighters believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
According to sources familiar with the mission, the insurgents launched the attack in the early hours of Wednesday, advancing on foot and deploying armed drones in an attempt to breach the defences of troops stationed at the 68 Battalion in Abadam Local Government Area.
However, the attempted infiltration was met with what officials described as overwhelming firepower and coordinated resistance from both ground and air units. Troops engaged the attackers in a sustained battle, supported by precision air strikes that significantly degraded the insurgents’ capabilities.
Military sources disclosed that at least four air interdiction strikes were carried out on identified enemy positions, effectively neutralising large numbers of fighters and forcing the remaining insurgents into a disorganised retreat toward nearby areas.
Additional support from allied air assets from neighbouring Niger Republic reportedly intensified pressure on the fleeing militants, although full assessment of the impact of those strikes is still ongoing.
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Despite the intensity of the confrontation, only four soldiers were reported to have sustained minor injuries, and they have since been treated and stabilised.
The latest operation highlights the continued reliance on joint air-ground coordination in counterinsurgency efforts, as well as growing regional collaboration in tackling cross-border threats.
Residents in surrounding communities, long accustomed to the disruptions caused by insurgent activities, have expressed cautious relief at the development, even as security agencies maintain vigilance against further attacks.
The military has yet to release an official statement, but the development was shared on Wednesday via X by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, drawing attention to the scale of the operation and its outcome.