Troops under Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised 60 terrorists in a coordinated land and air assault in Bita, Borno State.
According to a reliable military source in Maiduguri, the overnight operation began at 1:09 a.m. on Friday following an attempted attack by insurgents on a military position. The offensive involved troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade of Sector 1, in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force.
The source revealed that A-29 Super Tucano aircraft and the Dragon platform were deployed to deliver precision strikes, destroying two enemy gun trucks and killing scores of insurgents.
“Over 60 terrorists were confirmed neutralised in the initial engagement, while ground forces commenced exploitation operations to pursue fleeing elements,” the source said.
Follow-up airstrikes were reportedly ongoing, targeting more enemy positions and destroying additional gun trucks, with surviving terrorists retreating into nearby forests.
A senior military officer, who requested anonymity, described the strike as “one of the most decisive and devastating hits against ISWAP in recent months,” praising the synergy between air and ground troops.
Bita, located in the Gwoza axis of southern Borno, has experienced a surge in terrorist activity in recent weeks, leading to heightened military operations in the region.
(NAN)