Many Casualties As Troops Engage Fleeing Terrorists

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai of the Nigerian Army have recorded casualties following an encounter with fleeing terrorists during clearance operations in Borno State. The engagement occurred on Tuesday after troops conducted coordinated clearance operations across key terrorist locations within the Timbuktu Triangle, including Tergejeri, Chiralia, and the Ajigin/Abirma general areas. The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday, by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba. According to the statement, troops made intermittent contact with fleeing terrorist elements during the operations and engaged them with sustained firepower, resulting in the neutralisation of several insurgents. “Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have sustained their advance into the Timbuktu Triangle, recording significant operational gains and further degrading terrorist networks operating within the area,” Uba said. He added that while troops were consolidating at a harbour area about six kilometres north of Chiralia, they encountered two Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs). “Through vigilance and swift action, one VBIED was successfully neutralised. The second, however, breached the defensive position and affected some logistics platforms,” he said. Uba disclosed that during the incident, some soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, were killed, while others sustained injuries. The wounded personnel were evacuated by the Nigerian Army Aviation helicopters to the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital, with Nigerian Air Force platforms providing aerial cover during the operation. He further revealed that troops later discovered mass graves containing an estimated 20 bodies of terrorists killed during previous encounters in the Timbuktu Triangle and buried by their associates. The army said the discovery highlighted the scale of losses suffered by terrorist groups and countered propaganda claims by insurgents. Uba noted that the security situation across the theatre remains generally stable, adding that troops’ morale remains high as operations continue to sustain pressure on fleeing terrorists. “Troops of Operation HADIN KAI remain resolute in their commitment to protect civilians, dismantle terrorist networks, and restore lasting peace and security across the North-East,” the statement added