Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have thwarted an early-morning attempt by terrorists operating from the Mandara Mountains to infiltrate Bitta community in Borno State, killing several insurgents, including a key commander, in a coordinated ground and air operation.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, December 18, 2025, when troops deployed within the Area of Responsibility detected unusual movement by suspected terrorists advancing from the rugged Mandara Mountain axis.
According to a statement by Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI on Friday, the detection was made possible through a combination of vigilant troops on the ground and advanced surveillance systems.
“Exercising tactical restraint, the troops reportedly allowed the insurgents to advance into an effective engagement range before opening coordinated defensive fire.
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“The ensuing exchange led to the neutralisation of several terrorists, among them a senior commander believed to have played a central role in coordinating attacks in the area, as well as his cameraman, who was said to be responsible for documenting operations for propaganda purposes.
“As surviving members of the terrorist group attempted to flee the scene, the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI was deployed to conduct follow-on precision strikes.
“The air strikes targeted retreat routes used by the insurgents, further decimating their ranks and disrupting their escape into difficult terrain”, the military said.
It also noted that in the aftermath of the operation, ground troops carried out an extensive exploitation of the area, recovering a cache of weapons, communication devices and logistics believed to belong to the terrorists.
“Items recovered include a camcorder, several AK-47 rifles, bandoliers, handheld radios, 11 AK-47 magazines fully loaded with ammunition, seven mobile phones, PKT machine guns, multiple belts of PKT and GPMG linked ammunition, as well as motorcycles and bicycles suspected to have been used for movement and logistics.
“Further searches of the area revealed multiple blood trails and shallow graves, which military officials said point to additional casualties suffered by the terrorists during both the ground engagement and subsequent air strikes”, the statement added.
According to the military, the successful operation has dealt a significant blow to the operational capability of the terrorist group in the Mandara Mountains axis, while boosting the confidence of troops and residents in nearby communities.
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, the military said, remain in high morale and fighting spirit as sustained offensive operations continue to deny terrorists freedom of action and safeguard communities across the North-East.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to decisively defeat all terrorist elements and restore lasting peace and stability to the region.
