By Ade Oyeyemi
Troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, have reportedly killed 16 terrorists and recovered several weapons during operations in parts of Adamawa State.
The operations, conducted between September 30 and October 1, also saw the troops repel coordinated attacks on two military formations, according to the Theatre Command.
The Acting Media Information Officer of the Headquarters, JTF North-East, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.
Goni said troops operating in the Boima general area of Gombi Local Government Area ambushed a terrorist enclave, resulting in the reported death of 16 terrorists.
He said the subsequent search of the area led to the recovery of three AK-47 rifles, two pump-action rifles and one Dane gun.
Also recovered were six AK-47 magazines and a belt of cartridges for pump-action rifles, according to the statement.
In a related operation, the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI carried out an air strike after an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform detected about 16 terrorists and 15 motorcycles concealed under a tree canopy within the Sector 4 area of operations.
The military said the group was detected at about 4:40am on October 1, while the air strike was launched around 5:30am after the targets were positively identified.
According to Goni, the strike directly hit the identified target, while a subsequent battle damage assessment confirmed that the target had been destroyed.
He added that surviving terrorists reportedly fled the area in different directions following the strike.
Meanwhile, troops deployed to 226 Battalion in Garkida and 232 Battalion in Garaha reportedly came under coordinated attacks from insurgents.
The statement said the soldiers responded with superior firepower, forcing the attackers to abandon the assaults and withdraw.
However, three soldiers were killed during the engagements, while personnel who sustained injuries were evacuated for medical treatment.
Goni said troops had commenced follow-up operations and mop-up activities across the affected locations.
He attributed the reported successes to improved coordination among the land, air and other components of the Theatre Command, supported by intelligence and technology.
He said the military’s renewed approach was aimed at restricting terrorists’ freedom of movement and operations across the North-East.
The Theatre Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and supporting efforts to restore lasting peace and security in the region.
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It also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible and timely information that could assist ongoing operations.
The command thanked Nigerians for their continued cooperation and support as the country marked its 66th Independence Anniversary.
