Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have reportedly killed more than 50 terrorists and repelled a series of coordinated attacks on military locations across Borno and Yobe States, according to the Nigerian military.
The simultaneous assaults, which targeted troops’ positions in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko, occurred between midnight and 4 a.m. on Thursday within Sectors 1 and 2 of the Joint Operations Area 1.
In a statement released in Maiduguri on Thursday, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East (OPHK), Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, said the troops displayed exceptional bravery and professionalism in repelling the attacks and inflicting heavy losses on the insurgents.
The statement reads:
“Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) with renewed vigour successfully defeated terrorist attacks on multiple locations across the Joint Operations Area in the early hours of today, 23 October 2025.
“Between midnight and 0400 hours, the terrorists launched coordinated assaults on troops’ positions in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko, situated in Sector 1 (Borno State) and Sector 2 (Yobe State), respectively.
“In all instances, troops stood firm, fought gallantly, and professionally repelled the attacks, dealing the terrorists a heavy, decisive and bloody blow.”
Lt.-Col. Uba explained that coordinated ground and air operations supported by precision strikes from the Air Component of OPHK resulted in the neutralisation of over 50 terrorists across all the affected locations.
“The coordinated offensive response was supported by air platforms of the Air Component Command of OPHK. The precision strikes, coupled with enhanced battlefield awareness provided by Theatre Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets, gave troops additional leverage and impetus to respond with overwhelming and lethal force.
“The combined ground and air efforts resulted in the neutralisation of over 50 terrorists across all the locations,” he said.
According to Uba, troops also recovered a significant cache of weapons, including 38 AK-47 rifles, seven PKT machine guns, five RPG tubes, two GPMGs, hand grenades, and thousands of assorted rounds of ammunition.
He added that over 70 wounded terrorists were being pursued by ground forces, while the Air Component maintained close coordination to ensure the total clearance of fleeing insurgents.
Intelligence reports, Uba noted, revealed that the attackers who stormed Dikwa and Gajibo advanced from the Cameroon axis, while those who struck Katarko emerged from the Timbuktu Triangle, a notorious terrorist enclave.
“Some of the gallant troops were wounded in action but are in stable condition. Some vehicles and buildings were also gutted by fire from the terrorists’ armed drones and RPG fire during the battle, especially in Mafa and Dikwa, where a part of the defences were momentarily breached,” he stated.
Despite the intensity of the assault, Uba confirmed that the troops maintained control of all their positions, repelling the attacks with renewed determination and professionalism.
“The Military High Command has commended the gallantry, doggedness and renewed charge of the troops. Their steadfast performance once again reaffirms the military’s unwavering resolve and capacity to defend the nation’s territorial integrity,” he concluded.
