Defense and Security
One Soldier Killed as Troops Neutralise 48 Terrorists in Borno, Yobe
Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation HADIN KAI have killed 48 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters while repelling coordinated attacks on military formations in Borno and Yobe states.
The attacks targeted military positions in Bitta, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, and the North East Theatre Training School (NETTS) in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement posted on the Nigerian Army’s X handle on Friday.
Goni said the engagements occurred between October 29 and 30, 2026, following attempts by the terrorists to overrun the military positions.
He explained that troops in Bitta successfully repelled an attack on the night of October 29, with ground forces supported by air assets overwhelming the assailants and inflicting heavy casualties.
In a separate engagement, troops also launched a counter-offensive against a large group of ISWAP fighters who attacked NETTS Buni Yadi from the evening of October 29 into the early hours of October 30.
According to him, the five-hour battle involved coordinated intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance operations, alongside air and ground forces deployed under the direction of the Theatre Command.
The military spokesman said troops recovered a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition following the engagements.
The recovered items included 42 AK-47 rifles, five PKT machine guns, four General Purpose Machine Guns, one 60mm mortar, 105 AK-47 magazines, two video cameras and thousands of rounds of ammunition of various calibres.
Goni, however, confirmed that one soldier was killed during the operations, while two others sustained minor injuries and were receiving medical attention.
He added that the morale of troops remained high despite the casualties.
The military described the operations as a major setback for the terrorists, noting that the heavy losses and recovered weapons had significantly weakened their operational capabilities in the North-East.
