By Salihu Pirkusu, Maiduguri
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), in close coordination with Air Component Comman have killed 18 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters after it destroyed key enclaves in coordinated ground and air assaults on Timbuktu Triangle, some parts of Sambisa and Bulabulin Forests.
Sources said the operations, conducted under ‘Operation Desert Sanity V’, targeted terrorist hideouts, with recovery of cache of arms and ammunition by troops.
In a press statement signed by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, Lt. Col. Sani Uba on Wednesday confirmed the incident.
“Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have continued to sustain offensive pressure against terrorist elements, under Operation DESERT SANITY V, recording significant operational gains in 2 separate but coordinated operational engagements involving troops of Sector 2 in the Azir Bridge (Timbuktu axis) and Bulabulin Forest areas in close coordination with the Air Component Command of OPHK.
“On the Bulabulin Forest axis, troops of Sector 2 OPHK in conjunction with elements of Stabilisation Force of Sector 2 and the Civilian Joint Task Force cleared terrorist enclaves at Mar, Subdu, Yaro Lawanti and Yaro Shuwari as well as other areas contiguous to the Bulabulin Forest and the Kamadogu Yobe stretch.
“During the operation, supported by assault air platforms from the Air Component Command, the troops made contact at Malam Shiri Village and engaged the terrorists in a well-coordinated and tactical flanking manoeuvre, neutralising 11 terrorists and forcing others to flee with varying degrees of injuries.
“All life support structures were subsequently destroyed and exploitation of the area led to the recovery of 9 AK-47 rifles, 3 PKT anti aircraft automatic machine guns, 5 motorcycles, assorted ammunition, and several materials used for Improvised Explosive Devices, thereby significantly disrupting the terrorist logistics and operational capability within the axis”. Uba said.
Continuing further the statement said: “Similarly, at the Timbuktu axis along the Wajiroko Sabongari corridor, troops had further operational with the terrorists, supported by the Air Component Command of OPHK.
“The troops with resilience and tactical discipline, maintained positions and decisively dealt with the terrorists. Subsequent exploitation revealed 7 neutralised terrorists, with additional blood trails and body parts indicating significantly higher enemy casualties during the assault.
“Recovered items include AK-47 rifles, RPG tubes, a large cache of ammunition, bandoliers, and communication equipment.
“The Air Component Command of OPHK played a very crucial and decisive role in both engagements, providing persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) that enabled accurate target acquisition and real-time situational awareness for ground troops coordinated fire. Precision air interdiction strikes were subsequently conducted by the aircrafts of the Nigerian Airforce on confirmed terrorist positions and fleeing elements, further decimating scores of the insurgents and ensuring the success of a well synchronised air–land offensive that overwhelmed the adversary.
“Furthermore, troops, in conjunction with volunteer forces, are currently conducting aggressive follow-up exploitation operations along the Forfor, Multe, and Wajiroko axes to consolidate gains, pursue fleeing terrorists, and prevent any attempt at regrouping.
“These successful engagements further reinforce OPHK’s growing operational effectiveness and sustained dominance across the battlespace. The Military High Command commends the troops for their gallantry and resilience while urging them to sustain the operational tempo. This is in the security and economic interest of the North East region”. Uba explained.
