Over 50 members of the Boko Haram and ISWAP group have been killed in a fresh onslaught by troops of the Operation Hadin Kai in Borno and Yobe States.

The troops dealt an onslaught on the terrorists in the early hours of Thursday, October 23, after repelling multiple coordinated attacks by the suspected criminals operating in key areas of the states.

A statement by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East (OPHK), Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba said that the attacks on the criminals began at about 4 am on Tuesday, after they had launched assaults on the troops stationed in various positions around Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo and Katarko.

Noting that the troops fought gallantly and professionally in carrying out their duties, Uba said devastating losses were recorded on the camp of the terrorists.

He said, “Between midnight and 0400 hours, the terrorists launched coordinated assaults on troops’ positions in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko, situated in Sector 1(Borno State) and Sector 2 (Yobe State), respectively.

“In all instances, troops stood firm, fought gallantly, and professionally repelled the attacks, dealing the terrorists a heavy, decisive and bloody blow,” Uba said.

He further added that the neutralisation of the terrorists was made possible following precision strikes from the Air Component of OPHK coupled with an enhanced battlefield awareness that was provided by Theatre Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR).

According to Uba, these efforts provided the troops the leverage and opportunity to respond in an overwhelming lethal force against the terrorists.

Recoveries made during the attack include 38 AK-47 rifles, seven PKT machine guns, five RPG tubes, two GPMGs, hand grenades, and thousands of assorted rounds of ammunition after the clashes.

“The Military High Command has commended the gallantry, doggedness and renewed charge of the troops. Their steadfast performance once again reaffirms the military’s unwavering resolve and capacity to defend the nation’s territorial integrity,” Uba stated.