Troops eliminate 50 ISWAP terrorists, crush assault on Buni Gari
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have repelled a coordinated attack by suspected ISWAP terrorists on the Headquarters of 27 Brigade and the Buni Gari checkpoint in Yobe State, killing no fewer than 50 insurgents.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday as the terrorists launched assaults from multiple directions under the cover of darkness in an attempt to overrun the military formation.
According to a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, the insurgents attacked from the western flank before advancing through the southern axis along Ganinga Junction and later from the south-western flank.
He said troops responded with heavy firepower and tactical resistance, forcing the attackers to retreat after suffering heavy casualties, while the military camp remained intact throughout the operation.
The statement added that troops recovered 10 terrorist corpses around the scene, while intelligence reports indicated that more bodies were discovered along the terrorists’ withdrawal routes around Gashua, Azare and Kamuya.
The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI also supported the operation with surveillance and precision air strikes, which reportedly accounted for additional terrorist casualties during the pursuit of fleeing insurgents.
Items recovered from the operation included AK-47 rifles, General Purpose Machine Guns, Rocket-Propelled Grenade tubes, ammunition, magazines, bandoliers and Improvised Explosive Device canisters.
The military, however, confirmed the death of two soldiers during the operation, describing them as gallant personnel who paid the supreme price in defence of the nation, while follow-up operations continue to track fleeing terrorists and prevent regrouping.
