Nigerian Troops Raid Sambisa Forest, Neutralise Boko Haram Fighters, Recover Explosives

Troops of the Nigerian Army, under Operation Hadin Kai, have conducted a successful clearance operation in the Sambisa Forest, neutralising several Boko Haram insurgents and recovering bomb-making materials.

According to a statement shared on the Army’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, the operation was carried out on May 13, 2025, following aerial reconnaissance that identified terrorist hideouts in Garin Baaba.

“Troops of OPERATION HADIN KAI conducted aerial reconnaissance, identifying enemy positions at Garin Baaba. A subsequent encounter resulted in the neutralisation of several Boko Haram terrorists,” the statement read.

During the operation, troops recovered a range of weapons and bomb-making components, including containers for Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs), pressure plates for IEDs, and other ammunition. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams safely detonated the recovered explosives on-site.

The Army confirmed that clearance operations are still ongoing in the region.

Meanwhile, military sources revealed that on May 12, 2025, fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched sustained attacks that eventually forced Nigerian troops to withdraw from Marte Local Government Area in Borno State. After repeated offensives, ISWAP reportedly took control of the area.

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Marte has become a symbolic and strategic battleground between insurgents and government forces, frequently changing hands over the years.

In a related incident, SaharaReporters earlier reported that scores of Nigerian soldiers were killed during a Boko Haram assault on the base of the 153 Task Force Battalion in Marte. The attackers allegedly burned armoured vehicles and looted ammunition during the raid.

Nigeria has been battling insurgency in the North East for over a decade, with Boko Haram—emerging in the early 2000s—responsible for widespread violence, bombings, mass abductions, and attacks on both military and civilian targets.