Troops of the Joint Task Force, North East, Operation Hadin Kai, have killed 48 suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters and recovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition following separate engagements in Borno and Yobe states.
Key Highlights
- Operation Hadin Kai troops kill 48 ISWAP fighters in Borno and Yobe.
- Attacks on military positions in Bitta, Gwoza, and NETTS, Buni Yadi, repelled.
- 42 AK-47 rifles, machine guns, a 60mm mortar and thousands of rounds recovered.
- Buni Yadi engagement lasted about five hours with air and ground support.
- One soldier killed, two others sustained minor injuries.
The military said the operations, which took place between October 29 and 30, 2026, foiled attempted terrorist attacks on military positions in Bitta, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, and the North East Theatre Training School (NETTS), Buni Yadi, in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force, North East, Captain Mohammed Goni, troops successfully repelled an attempted terrorist assault on their position in Bitta on the night of October 29.
He said the combined response of ground troops and air support overwhelmed the attackers, disrupted their operation and inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists.
Five-Hour Battle At Buni Yadi
In a related operation, troops launched a counter-offensive against a large concentration of ISWAP fighters who attacked NETTS, Buni Yadi, between October 29 and the early hours of October 30.
The military described the engagement, which lasted approximately five hours, as a coordinated operation involving intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capabilities, alongside air and ground forces.
Goni said the counter-offensive resulted in the killing of 48 terrorists, while troops recovered a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition.
Weapons, Ammunition Recovered
Items recovered included 42 AK-47 rifles, five PKT machine guns, four general purpose machine guns, one 60mm mortar, 105 AK-47 magazines and two video cameras.
Other recovered ammunition comprised 30 rounds of 12.7mm armour-piercing incendiary ammunition, 2,738 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 223 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition and 2,054 rounds of PKT ammunition.
Read also:
- Troops Kill 6 ISWAP Terrorists, Recover Ammunition In Borno
- Operation Hadin Kai Airstrike Kills Over 40 ISWAP Fighters In Borno
- Troops Kill 25 ISWAP Terrorists, Repel Attack, Recover Weapons in Borno
However, the military disclosed that one soldier was killed during the engagements, while two others sustained minor injuries and were receiving medical treatment.
Despite the casualties, the military said the morale of troops remained high as operations against terrorist groups continued across the theatre.
It added that the latest operational successes demonstrated the combat effectiveness, coordination and determination of troops to deny terrorist groups freedom of movement and action.
The military further noted that the casualties inflicted on the insurgents and the recovery of their weapons and ammunition represented a significant setback to their operational capabilities.
For more security updates, follow us on X.
