Troops Deepen Offensive, Eliminate 5 Terrorists, Recover Arms in Borno
Troops of the Joint Task Force North-East Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have intensified their onslaught against Boko Haram and ISWAP elements, neutralising five terrorists during a fierce encounter in the Magumeri axis of Borno State. The engagement, which forms part of the ongoing Operation Desert Sanity IV, underscores the military’s sustained efforts to clear remaining insurgent enclaves in the North-East.
According to security sources, the operation was triggered by credible intelligence on the movement of terrorists marauding around Goni Dunari village, where they were reportedly moving in two vehicles and on foot, setting houses ablaze and terrorising residents.
Responding swiftly, the troops, in collaboration with the Magumeri Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), launched an aggressive fighting patrol aimed at intercepting the fleeing insurgents. The sources said that upon sighting the advancing troops, the terrorists attempted to escape towards Damjiyakiri village, prompting a pursuit that lasted more than four hours.
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As the troops closed in, they engaged the fleeing terrorists in a heavy exchange of fire, killing five on the spot. Others fled in disarray, many believed to have sustained gunshot wounds as indicated by visible blood trails discovered at the scene.
Recovered items from the operation included one AK-47 rifle with registration number 06798, five magazines (three empty and two loaded), 31 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one Itel mobile phone, and a dagger.
The sources confirmed that the troops sustained no casualties and all operational equipment remained intact. The patrol, which covered a total distance of 92 kilometres, returned safely to base after the successful engagement.
Operation Desert Sanity IV, currently ongoing across northern Borno, is part of a broader offensive aimed at flushing out remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists still operating along the Lake Chad Basin and the Magumeri–Kukawa–Gubio corridor.
Security analysts note that the continued success of such ground offensives reflects improved synergy between the Nigerian Army, the Air Component, and local vigilante groups. This coordination, they say, has significantly contributed to the growing stability and restoration of normalcy across formerly troubled communities in the region.
By PRNigeria
