From Inusa Ndahi, Damaturu
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have repelled a coordinated terrorist assault on Kukareta in Yobe State, recording a major operational victory that underscores the military’s sustained momentum in the fight against insurgency in the region.
The attack, which began shortly after midnight on Thursday, April 23, 2026, lasted until about 3:00 a.m., but was decisively thwarted by troops under Sector 2.
According to a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer at the Headquarters of Operation HADIN KAI, the soldiers responded with a well-coordinated offensive-defensive manoeuvre that overwhelmed the attackers and forced them into a chaotic retreat.
In the intense engagement, troops inflicted heavy losses on the terrorists, with at least 24 insurgents confirmed neutralised.
The military has since commenced extensive exploitation operations across the battlefield and surrounding areas, yielding significant recoveries of weapons and ammunition abandoned by the fleeing fighters.
Recovered items include 18 AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), two PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns, three Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tubes, two mortar tubes, four hand grenades, 18 AK-47 magazines, and large quantities of belted 7.62mm ammunition used in PKT systems. The scale of the recovered arsenal highlights the magnitude of the threat and the effectiveness of the troops’ response in neutralising it.
Despite the intensity of the encounter, casualties on the side of the troops were minimal. Two personnel sustained injuries during the operation and have since been stabilised and are receiving medical attention. Additionally, one reinforcing armoured tank was damaged, with its tyres blown out during the firefight, though no loss of life was recorded among its crew.
Military authorities noted that the fleeing terrorists left behind trails of blood and medical supplies along their withdrawal routes, indicating the severity of the casualties inflicted. Ongoing exploitation efforts are focused on tracking these escape paths to recover additional bodies and equipment, further degrading the operational capacity of the insurgent group.
Lieutenant Colonel Uba reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustaining offensive pressure across the Joint Operations Area, noting that operations will intensify in the coming weeks to consolidate gains and decisively eliminate remaining terrorist enclaves.
