Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, OPHK, have foiled an attack by Boko Haram terrorists on Kukawa town in Borno State, killing several terrorists during coordinated ground and air operations.
The development was disclosed by the Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, in a statement on Saturday.
Goni said the terrorists attacked troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion deployed in Kukawa at about 10:50 p.m. on August 28, 2026.
According to him, the troops responded with direct and indirect fire, repelled the attack and forced the terrorists to withdraw towards the Cross Kauwa axis.
He said several terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, while others sustained gunshot wounds as they fled. Subsequent exploitation by ground troops also led to the recovery of the bodies of terrorists.
As the terrorists withdrew on motorcycles towards Cross Kauwa, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai was deployed to interdict their movement.
Despite challenging weather conditions, the air component engaged the terrorists taking cover under trees, neutralising an estimated 10 of them.
Goni said Multi-National Joint Task Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets subsequently tracked about 20 motorcycles conveying fleeing terrorists towards the Tunbuns/Kangarwa axis.
The intelligence enabled the Air Component to conduct a follow-up precision strike, killing an additional 15 terrorists and destroying 10 motorcycles.
During subsequent ground operations, troops recovered two motorcycles, killed another terrorist and recovered assorted ammunition and other items.
The military said the coordinated ground and air operations disrupted the attack, blocked the terrorists’ withdrawal and further weakened their ability to regroup or launch sustained attacks in the area.
Goni added that four military personnel sustained injuries during the engagement, but none of the injuries was life-threatening. The wounded personnel were evacuated by air for medical attention and were said to be in stable condition.
He said troops had commenced reorganisation and further exploitation of the area, while battle damage assessment and evaluation of the operation were ongoing.
