Borno: 15 killed as troops of Operation Hadin Kai engage terrorists in gun battle
No fewer than 12 terrorists were neutralised while many others fled with gunshot wounds following an attack on troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) in Kukawa Town, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Meanwhile, three soldiers lost their lives during the attack. Efforts to clear and exploit the area are ongoing, with house-to-house searches being conducted to ensure the area is secure.
According to a statement on Army’s X official handle, the terrorists were reported to have launched an attack on the troops in the early hours of 25th November 2024, on gun trucks and motorcycles, trying to breach the camp using a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) from the Gudumbali axis.
The statement continued, “The gallant troops, in a coordinated and determined response, engaged the terrorists with overwhelming firepower, bolstered by support from the Air Component and the Nigerian Army’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Command. This resolute defense forced the terrorists into a disorganized retreat, leaving behind heavy casualties.”
The statement furthered that the troops recovered the following items from the attack which include 5 AK-47 rifles, 1 RPG bomb, 1 RPG tube, 2 Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns, 1 QJC gun, 1 NSV heavy machine gun, 40 motorcycles, 152 rounds of Shilka ammunition, among other items.
Additionally, four out of seven VBIEDs deployed by the terrorists were destroyed.
Fast forward, the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen OO Oluyede, commended the troops for their courage while urging them to sustain their momentum with ongoing clearance operations and fighting patrols.
