Terrorist Leader, Cameraman Killed as Army Repels Attack on Military Base in Borno

Terrorist Leader, Cameraman Killed as Army Repels Attack on Military Base in Borno

A terrorist leader, his cameraman and several other insurgents have been killed by troops of Operation HADIN KAI during an attempted attack on a military base in Borno State

The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba. According to him, the incident occurred on Thursday when the terrorists attempted to infiltrate a military location in Bitt

The statement explained that the attackers, who were operating from the Mandara Mountains, were detected by troops before they could gain access to the base

“At about 0030 hours on 18 December 2025, troops, supported by advanced surveillance systems, detected the movement of terrorists advancing towards the area,” the statement sai

It added that the troops tactically allowed the insurgents to move closer before engaging them

“Exercising tactical restraint and professionalism, the troops allowed the terrorists to move into an effective engagement range before unleashing coordinated defensive fires. The engagement resulted in the neutralisation of several insurgents, including a key terrorist leader and his cameraman

According to the statement, as the remaining terrorists tried to flee, they were targeted by further military actio

“As the surviving terrorists attempted to withdraw, follow-on precision strikes were subsequently conducted by the Air Component of OPHK, further decimating the retreating elements and disrupting their escape routes

Troops were said to have carried out a detailed search of the area after the encounter, leading to the recovery of several items believed to belong to the terrorist

“Following the engagement, troops conducted a thorough exploitation of the area, leading to the recovery of significant terrorist equipment and logistics,” the statement said

Items recovered included a camcorder, AK-47 rifles, bandoliers, handheld radios, 11 AK-47 magazines with rounds, seven mobile phones, PKT machine guns, belts of PKT and GPMG linked ammunition, as well as motorcycles and bicycle

The military also noted signs of additional casualties among the insurgent

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“Further exploitation revealed multiple blood trails and shallow graves, indicative of additional casualties sustained by the terrorists during the encounter and subsequent air strikes

Lieutenant Colonel Uba stated that troops remain motivated as operations continue across the region

“Troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remain high as operations continue to deny terrorists freedom of action and ensure the safety and security of communities within the area of responsibility