Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised 24 terrorists during a midnight attack after insurgents attempted to overrun a military location in Kukareta, Yobe State.
The attack, which lasted about three hours in the early hours of Thursday, was repelled following a fierce exchange of fire.
The development as suspected Boko Haram terrorists, killed 19 farmers in Amdaga, a community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
It was gathered that the attackers ambushed the farmers on their farmland around 11 a.m. on Thursday while they were engaged in clearing bushes ahead of the rainy season.
The military has sustained operations against Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province in the North-East, even as the terrorists continue to attack soft targets and military bases.
In a statement on Thursday, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, North-East Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Col Sani Uba, said the attack on the military location in Kukareta began shortly after midnight and lasted until about 0300 hours.
The statement read, “Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), under Sector 2, successfully repelled a determined terrorist attack on Kukareta location.
“The attack, which commenced shortly after midnight and lasted until about 0300 hours, was met with a swift and coordinated response by vigilant troops who executed a deliberate offensive-defensive action, effectively containing the assault and forcing the terrorists into a disorderly withdrawal.”
He said troops inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers, neutralising 24 terrorists during the engagement.
“During the engagement, troops inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers, with 24 terrorists neutralised so far,” the statement added.
Uba noted that ongoing exploitation of the battlefield led to the recovery of a significant cache of arms and ammunition.
Recovered items include 18 AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns, two PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns, three RPG tubes, two mortar tubes, four hand grenades, 18 AK-47 magazines and large quantities of 7.62mm ammunition.
He further disclosed that two soldiers were wounded in action but have since been stabilised, while a reinforcing armoured tank sustained damage during the encounter.
“Troops recorded two personnel wounded in action, who have been stabilised, while one reinforcing armoured tank sustained damage with all tyres blown out during the engagement,” he said.
According to him, troops were conducting follow-up operations to track fleeing insurgents and recover additional equipment.
“Exploitation operations are ongoing to recover additional bodies and equipment along the terrorists’ withdrawal routes littered with blood trails and medical consumables,” Uba stated.
He added that the operation underscored the resilience and combat readiness of troops in the theatre.
“This successful operation highlights the resilience, combat readiness and fire superiority of OPHK troops in denying terrorists freedom of action,” he said.
Uba assured that sustained offensive operations would continue to consolidate gains and eliminate terrorist elements across the North-East.
Confirming the killing of 19 farmers in an interview with The PUNCH, the President of the Gwoza Elite Forum, Emmanuel Ibrahim, said search operations were ongoing to ascertain whether more bodies could be recovered.
“Today, at Gwoza Local Government, around Amdaga, people went to get firewood, and some went to clear their farms.
“Because the rainy season is approaching, people are clearing bushes. While on the farmland, they were ambushed. So far, more than 19 people have been confirmed dead,” he said.
Eyewitnesses told The PUNCH that most of the victims were men.
A resident, Saliu Abdul, said the incident had caused panic in the community, calling for urgent government intervention.
“It was around 11 this morning that some people who narrowly escaped came to town to narrate what happened. They said the terrorists shot at some people and hacked others with machetes.
“Search is still ongoing to know if there are corpses to be recovered,” he added.
Another source, who pleaded anonymity, said most of those killed were men and appealed for immediate government intervention.
Confirming the latest killings, Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, where Gwoza LG falls, in an interview with Vanguard, said: “I received a distress call this afternoon that 18 of my constituents who went to their farms were ambushed and killed by terrorists this morning. It is quite unfortunate and shocking.
“May Allah grant Aljannatul Firdaus to their Souls, and may their families bear the irreparable loss.”
The attack occurred less than 48 hours after suspected Boko Haram terrorists killed 20 people in Pubagu, Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, and Mayo-Ladde in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The Chairman of Askira Uba Local Government Area, Mada Saidu, had earlier confirmed that 11 people were killed in Pubagu, while nine died in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
