Troops of Operation Hadin Kai engaged fleeing terrorists in Borno State on Tuesday, resulting in casualties on both sides, the Joint Task Force (JTF) has confirmed.
The encounter followed a clearance operation across terrorist strongholds, including Tergejeri, Chiralia, and the Ajigin/Abirma areas.
JTF Media Information Officer, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, said many terrorists were neutralised during the operations.
“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,” Lt. Col. Uba stated.
During the operations, troops made intermittent contact with fleeing terrorist elements, engaging them with high volumes of fire. On January 20, while consolidating at a location approximately six kilometers north of Chiralia, troops encountered two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs).
One VBIED was successfully neutralised, while the second breached a defensive position, affecting some logistics platforms.
The attack claimed the lives of some gallant soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, while others sustained injuries. Wounded personnel were promptly evacuated by Nigerian Army Aviation helicopters to the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital, with the Nigerian Air Force providing continuous overwatch during the operation.
Lt. Col. Uba also revealed that troops discovered mass graves containing an estimated 20 terrorist bodies, killed in previous encounters and buried by their cohorts.
“This discovery exposes the scale of terrorist casualties and further discredits terrorist propaganda narratives,” he said.
He added that the security situation across the theatre remains generally stable. Troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remain high, and operations continue with sustained pressure on fleeing terrorist elements.
“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 concluded.
