Nigerian troops in Operation Hadin Kai executed a successful joint offensive in Bita, Gwoza axis of southern Borno State, neutralising over 60 terrorists during a pre-dawn assault that combined precision airstrikes and aggressive ground manoeuvres.
The counteroffensive, launched at approximately 1:09 a.m. on Friday, came in response to an attempted raid by insurgents on a forward military position. The well-coordinated mission featured troops from the 26 Task Force Brigade, backed by the Nigerian Air Force’s A-29 Super Tucano jets and Dragon platforms.
Military insiders said the ISWAP fighters, who have been active in the region in recent weeks, were swiftly overwhelmed by superior firepower and tactical coordination. Air strikes destroyed two-gun trucks and disrupted a weapons convoy believed to be supplying insurgent camps in the Mandara Mountains.
“We confirmed over 60 enemy combatants were eliminated during the first phase of the assault,” a senior military official told NAN. “Several more fled into the Sambisa corridor, and we are pursuing them with surveillance drones and ground assets.”
In addition to neutralising enemy forces, the army reported seizure of logistics supplies, including communication devices, fuel, and arms caches, indicating that the insurgents may have been preparing for a broader campaign of attacks.
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Another source, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the operation as “one of the most strategically significant victories against ISWAP this quarter,” crediting the seamless coordination between intelligence units, air support, and infantry regiments.
The Nigerian Army, through its official X account, @HQNigerianArmy, lauded the effort as a “major blow to insurgent morale,” and confirmed that follow-up operations are ongoing to flush out remaining elements and disrupt their mobility in the forested enclaves surrounding Gwoza.
Bita, once a quiet farming village, has in recent weeks become a focal point for terrorist activities due to its proximity to the Cameroon border and notorious ISWAP routes. Civilians in the area had reported unusual movements and attacks on isolated farming settlements, prompting the military to increase surveillance and operational tempo.
The Nigerian military has ramped up its counter-insurgency operations across the northeast in recent months, in a renewed effort to dismantle ISWAP and Boko Haram networks that have plagued the region for over a decade.
Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity, while affirming that normalcy is gradually returning to conflict-hit communities in Borno.
NAN
