Nigerian Troops Repel Multiple Terrorist Attacks, Secure Key Areas in the Northeast

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‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngule
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‎Nigerian troops under Operation Hadin Kai, the military’s counterterrorism mission in the country’s northeast, have repelled a series of coordinated attacks by insurgents and secured several key locations across Borno and Adamawa States between October 25 and 31, military officials said Friday.
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‎The Nigerian Army said in a statement that its forces thwarted attempted bombings, intercepted smuggling operations, and disrupted logistics networks linked to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The operations formed part of renewed efforts to degrade the remaining capabilities of armed groups in the region.
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‎On October 25, troops stationed in Kukawa, Borno State, stopped a planned suicide attack involving a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED). Soldiers fired rocket-propelled grenades at the armored vehicle, before a T-55 tank destroyed it, preventing what officials described as a “catastrophic attack.” A 10-year-old girl sustained minor injuries and received treatment at a nearby medical facility.
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‎In the Dikwa–Ajiri corridor, troops working alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) uncovered and safely disposed of three improvised explosive devices, averting potential attacks on critical supply routes.
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‎Further south, on October 29, soldiers from the 192 Battalion ambushed insurgents near the Mandara Mountains, killing two and forcing others to flee. The military said items recovered from the scene confirmed that the militants continue to rely on bicycles and food supplies to sustain operations in the area.
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‎That same day, troops with the 232 Battalion intercepted a drum of fuel and two motorcycles used for illegal transport near Mubi South, Adamawa State, as part of an anti-smuggling operation dubbed Operation Strangulation. The smugglers fled, leaving behind the contraband.
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‎In a separate operation, soldiers from the 144 Battalion and Sector 4 Special Forces, acting on intelligence reports, arrested five suspects believed to be linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP in Sabon Gari, Madagali Local Government Area. Recovered items included a desert camouflage uniform, live ammunition, and 50 wraps of cannabis.
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‎The Air Component Command of Operation Hadin Kai provided air cover and reconnaissance support during the weeklong operations, conducting precision strikes that “neutralized several terrorists and disrupted key supply routes,” according to the statement.
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‎A follow-up mission on October 31 near the Sambisa Forest led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, and four bicycles, with no casualties recorded among Nigerian troops.
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‎Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the military’s spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, commended the troops’ “gallantry, professionalism, and commitment to restoring peace in the Northeast.” He reaffirmed that operations will continue “to dismantle remaining terrorist cells, disrupt their supply lines, and safeguard vulnerable communities.”
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‎The military’s campaign in northeastern Nigeria, now in its second decade, continues against the backdrop of persistent attacks by remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP, whose activities have displaced more than two million people and left thousands dead across the Lake Chad Basin.
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