No fewer than 60 Boko Haram terrorists have been neutralised in Borno State following a coordinated offensive launched by the Nigerian Army.
The major operation, carried out by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, involved a combined land and air assault on the insurgents’ hideout in Bita, a notorious hotspot in the southern part of the state.
The ambush was triggered when the terrorists attempted a surprise attack on a military camp. However, alert personnel from the 26 Task Force Brigade under Sector 1, in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force, spotted the insurgents and launched a swift counterattack.
To ensure precision, the air component deployed A-29 Super Tucano jets and the Dragon air platform to carry out targeted strikes, eliminating dozens of fighters, destroying hidden positions, and taking out two armed vehicles used by the terrorists.
A military source in Maiduguri disclosed that the joint operation began at about 1:09 a.m. on Friday, successfully repelling what could have been a deadly assault on the military outpost.
According to the source, “Over 60 enemy fighters were confirmed dead following the initial engagement,” adding that troops continued to comb the area for any fleeing militants.
Follow-up aerial bombings were also conducted to eliminate remaining threats. A senior officer described the mission as “one of the most effective operations in recent times,” commending the seamless coordination between the air and ground forces.
