Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have foiled an early-morning attempt by terrorists to infiltrate Bitta community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, killing several insurgents and significantly degrading their fighting capacity.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, disclosed in a statement that the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, when troops detected terrorist movements from the Mandara Mountains.
According to him, at about 12:30 a.m. on December 18, 2025, OPHK troops, aided by advanced surveillance systems, observed the insurgents advancing towards the area. The troops exercised tactical restraint, allowing the terrorists to move into an effective engagement range before launching coordinated defensive fire.
“The engagement resulted in the neutralisation of several insurgents, including a high-value terrorist commander and his cameraman,” Uba said.
He added that as the surviving terrorists attempted to flee, the Air Component of OPHK carried out follow-up precision airstrikes, further decimating the retreating fighters and disrupting their escape routes.
Items recovered from the terrorists include a camcorder, AK-47 rifles, bandoliers, handheld radios, 11 AK-47 magazines loaded with ammunition, seven mobile phones, PKT machine guns, belts of PKT and GPMG linked ammunition, as well as motorcycles and bicycles.
Lt. Col. Uba further revealed that subsequent exploitation of the area uncovered multiple blood trails and shallow graves, suggesting additional casualties suffered by the terrorists during the ground engagement and airstrikes.
He said the operation underscores the continued resolve of OPHK to deny terrorists freedom of movement and prevent attacks on civilian communities in the North-East.
