The Nigerian Army has confirmed that the military killed 60 terrorists in a gun battle in Borno State.
This was disclosed in a brief statement on the Army Headquarters’ Facebook page on Friday. The operation reportedly took place in Bita, Borno State, during the early hours of May 30.
The troops of Operation Hadin Kai carried out a coordinated land and air assault on terrorist positions.
The statement read, “The intense battle resulted in the neutralization of at least 60 terrorists.”
Daily Post reported that this action forms part of ongoing efforts to combat insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East region.
Also, recent reports show several terrorists have been killed in similar military operations across the area.
In a related development, the Nigerian Army confirmed the death of a notorious terrorist commander, Amir Abu Fatima. He lost his life during a special military operation in Kukawa, northern Borno.
According to the report, the Special Forces of the 19 Brigade under Sector 3 of Operation Hadin Kai carried out the attack. This took place in the early hours of the same day.
Abu Fatima had a ₦100 million bounty placed on his head due to his role in multiple high-profile attacks. He, however, died alongside two of his key lieutenants in Aleru village, Kukawa Local Government Area.
A military source described the operation as a “precision decapitation strike.” It aimed to neutralize Abu Fatima, who was one of the most-wanted terrorists in the Lake Chad Basin.
The elite troops infiltrated the terrorists’ enclave and engaged in a fierce firefight.
According to report, Abu Fatima sustained critical injuries during the operation. As a result, the troops captured him alive but later died from excessive bleeding.
The source also confirmed many terrorists died during the operation, including his second-in-command, several bomb-makers, and foot soldiers.
Items recovered from the terrorists included several AK-47 rifles, loaded magazines, components for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and other military-grade weapons.
These seizures represent a significant blow to the terrorists’ operational capabilities. The success of the operation is a major tactical and psychological setback for terrorist networks in the region.
The operation demonstrates the capacity of Nigeria’s Special Forces in counterterrorism missions. Precision strikes and intelligence-driven actions are now core to military strategies in the region.
The Nigerian Army has vowed to sustain pressure on terrorist groups in its efforts to defeat the terrorists. Local communities have expressed relief and support for the military’s efforts to end violence.
Military sources confirmed that operations continue across other troubled zones in Borno and across the country. This comes after the DSS arrested terrorists planning to observe Hajj in Saudi Arabia
