Overnight fighting in Mallam Fatori, Borno State, left over 80 terrorists dead after troops of Operation HADIN KAI successfully repelled a coordinated attack.
The insurgents launched a five-pronged assault on the 68 Battalion location in Sector 3 in the early hours of Wednesday, but soldiers under the Joint Task Force (North East) mounted a strong defensive and counter-offensive response.
The military report said the attackers advanced in large numbers on foot and deployed armed drones, attempting to breach defensive positions along the Bravo Company frontage from the Duguri axis.
Forewarned by prior intelligence, troops engaged the insurgents with superior firepower and tactical manoeuvres, overwhelming them and forcing a chaotic retreat.
Air support from the Air Component of OPHK, along with allied Nigerien air assets, delivered precision strikes that further decimated the fleeing fighters.
A subsequent sweep of the battlefield recovered a significant cache of weapons and ammunition, including dozens of AK-47 rifles, machine guns, RPG launchers, improvised explosive devices, and components of armed drones.
Despite the intensity of the battle, only four soldiers were wounded and have since been stabilised, while battle damage assessment continues.
Among the dead were three senior terrorist commanders – Abdulrahman Gobara, Malam Ba Yuram, and Abou Ayyuba, along with several other fighters.
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