The terrorists were neutralised during an attempted infiltration of the 68 Battalion position in the early hours of Wednesday, in an operation that showcased the growing effectiveness of joint military operations in the North-East.
Initial reports had put the death toll at 61 following a coordinated counter-offensive by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, backed by the Nigerian Air Force. However, subsequent battlefield assessments and mop-up operations confirmed that at least 75 insurgents were killed, with several others escaping with serious injuries.
Security sources disclosed that the attackers advanced on foot from the Duguri axis toward the Bravo Company location, reportedly deploying armed drones in a bid to breach the military’s defensive lines. The movement was, however, swiftly detected and repelled by troops.
The success of the operation was attributed to strong coordination between air and ground forces, with the Nigerian Air Force conducting four precision strikes on identified withdrawal routes of the insurgents.
The air interdictions effectively disrupted the terrorists’ movement, forcing a disorganised retreat toward the Arege axis while significantly degrading their combat strength.
Additional support from allied air assets of the Niger Republic further intensified the assault on the fleeing insurgents, contributing to the rising casualty figures, although a full assessment of the damage from those strikes is still ongoing.
Troops also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from the scene, further weakening the operational capacity of the group in the Lake Chad region.
Meanwhile, four soldiers sustained minor injuries during the encounter and have since been treated and stabilised.
Security analysts have described the outcome as one of the most decisive recent victories against ISWAP, underscoring the impact of enhanced military coordination in ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
