Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, OPHK, have killed more than 50 terrorists and repelled multiple coordinated attacks on military positions in Borno and Yobe states.

The simultaneous assaults occurred between midnight and 4 am on Thursday, when terrorists targeted troops’ positions in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko, all within sectors I and II of the Joint Operations Area.

The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, OPHK, Lt Col Sani Uba, said in a statement on Thursday in Maiduguri that the troops fought gallantly and professionally, inflicting heavy losses on the insurgents.

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

He said coordinated ground and air operations, supported by precision strikes from the air component of OPHK, led to the neutralisation of more than 50 terrorists across the affected areas.

According to him, the troops recovered 38 AK-47 rifles, seven PKT machine guns, five RPG tubes, two GPMGs, hand grenades, and thousands of assorted rounds of ammunition following the clashes.

Uba added that over 70 wounded terrorists were being pursued by ground forces, while air surveillance continued to track fleeing remnants.

Intelligence reports indicated that the attackers who stormed Dikwa and Gajibo advanced from the Cameroon axis, while those who attacked Katarko came from the Timbuktu Triangle, a notorious terrorist enclave.

He confirmed that some troops sustained injuries but were in stable condition, while a few vehicles and buildings in Mafa and Dikwa were damaged by RPG and drone attacks.

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