Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have recorded fresh operational gains in Borno State after clashing with fleeing terrorist elements during sustained clearance operations across key locations in the Timbuktu Triangle.
The encounters followed coordinated advances into identified terrorist enclaves, including Tergejeri, Chiralia, and the Ajigin/Abirma general areas, where troops successfully dislodged insurgents and asserted control over strategic ground.
During the operations, soldiers made repeated contact with retreating terrorists and engaged them with heavy firepower, leading to the neutralisation of several insurgents. Military sources confirmed that the offensive significantly weakened terrorist presence in the area and disrupted their movement corridors.
While consolidating at a harbour location north of Chiralia, troops encountered two Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices. One of the devices was successfully neutralised through prompt action, while the second breached the defensive perimeter and impacted some logistics assets.
In the course of the attack, some soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force lost their lives, while others sustained injuries. The wounded were immediately evacuated by military helicopters to medical facilities for treatment, with air assets providing continuous cover to ensure the safe extraction of casualties and the protection of ground forces.
Further evidence of the scale of losses suffered by the insurgents emerged as troops discovered mass graves containing an estimated 20 terrorist bodies, believed to have been buried by their fleeing counterparts after previous encounters.
The discovery underscores the intensity of recent engagements and further exposes attempts by terrorist groups to downplay their casualties through propaganda.
Across the theatre of operations, the security situation remains generally stable, with troops maintaining high morale and sustained combat effectiveness. Military operations continue with relentless pressure on fleeing terrorist elements as forces remain committed to dismantling insurgent networks, protecting civilians, and restoring lasting peace and security across the North East.
