Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have foiled multiple coordinated infiltration attempts by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters targeting parts of Borno State, forcing the attackers to retreat after fierce engagements.
The military disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni.
According to the statement, the attempted attacks occurred in the early hours of Friday between 12:20 a.m. and 2:30 a.m., when terrorists launched coordinated infiltration efforts through Muna Garage, Shuwari Village and the Ajilari Cross axis in an apparent bid to gain access to Maiduguri metropolis.
However, troops operating in the area reportedly detected the movement of the insurgents through established early warning systems and swiftly responded with coordinated firepower from multiple directions.
“With early warning mechanisms emplaced, troops swiftly detected the advancing terrorists and engaged them from multiple axes with accurate firepower, decisively frustrating all attempts to infiltrate,” the statement said.
The military added that troops also thwarted separate infiltration attempts by the insurgents in Miringa and Dutsen Kura communities in the Buratai area of Borno State.
During a follow-up pursuit operation at Miringa, a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle reportedly triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
The military, however, said no casualties were recorded among the troops and the situation had since been brought under control.
According to Operation HADIN KAI, the terrorists were overwhelmed by the troops’ rapid tactical response and were forced to abandon their mission, retreating in disarray across the various operational axes.
The military said clearance and exploitation operations were ongoing to track the fleeing insurgents, consolidate operational gains and prevent any further threat to surrounding communities.
“The terrorists were forced to abandon their mission and retreat in confusion across all axes. Troops are currently conducting clearance and exploitation operations to pursue the fleeing terrorists, consolidate operational gains and dominate the area,” the statement added.
The latest operation underscores the continued efforts of security forces to prevent terrorist incursions into Maiduguri and other vulnerable communities in Borno State, which remains the epicentre of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency campaign against Boko Haram and ISWAP elements.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations across the North-East theatre, stressing that troops would continue to deny terrorists freedom of movement and operational space.
The military also urged residents to remain vigilant and support ongoing counter-terrorism efforts by providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies.
Recent weeks have witnessed intensified military offensives across the North-East, with troops recording a series of successes against insurgent logistics networks, hideouts and infiltration routes as part of efforts to restore lasting peace and security in the region.
