Troops of the Nigerian Army, under Operation Hadin Kai, launched a decisive raid on May 13, 2025, targeting terrorist hideouts in the Sambisa Forest. The mission, prompted by aerial reconnaissance, led to the neutralisation of several Boko Haram insurgents and the destruction of bomb-making facilities.
According to a statement released Thursday via the Army’s official X handle, the reconnaissance mission pinpointed enemy positions at Garin Baaba. Ground forces swiftly moved in, eliminating multiple threats in a coordinated assault.
During the operation, troops recovered and destroyed a cache of arms and explosive components, including containers for Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs) and pressure plates used in IEDs. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams safely detonated the recovered materials on site.
The Army confirmed that clearance operations are still ongoing in the region.
This follows intensified attacks from fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which recently forced the military to abandon its position in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State on May 12, 2025. After sustained assaults, ISWAP reportedly overran the area, gaining temporary control.
Marte has remained a hotly contested zone, frequently changing hands due to its symbolic and strategic importance in the North-East insurgency.
Sources revealed that prior attacks by Boko Haram on the 153 Task Force Battalion base in Marte had resulted in the deaths of several soldiers. The militants were said to have burned armored vehicles and looted ammunition before retreating.
For over a decade, Nigeria’s North-East has endured a bloody insurgency, with Boko Haram and ISWAP responsible for bombings, ambushes, and assaults on both military targets and civilians. The recent operation in Sambisa Forest marks a renewed push by the Nigerian military to reclaim territory and dismantle terrorist infrastructure.
