January 27, (THEWILL) – In one of its deadliest encounters with terrorists in the country since September 2024, the Nigeria Army lost 22 soldiers while 70 terrorists were killed in a single clash in Borno State.
In September last year, President Bola Tinubu directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle and service chiefs to relocate to Sokoto for a coordinated attack on terror groups in the North-West geopolitical zone, just as he promised to eliminate insurgency and banditry in 2025.
Confirming the death of the soldiers and terrorists on Sunday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Abuja, Major-General Edward Buba, said the killings occurred during an ongoing operation which started on January 16, 2024, in the Timbuktu Triangle, a notorious stronghold of terrorists in the North-East State.
He said the operation, which is being conducted by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, is targeted at dismantling terrorist enclaves in the region.
He said, “Troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the Northeast of the country conducted a clearance operation to a renowned terrorist stronghold and enclave known as the Timbuktu Triangle. The three-pronged operation aimed at dismantling the terrorist presence within the triangle commenced on 16 Jan 25 till date.
“The troops recorded several encounters with terrorists during the course of the clearance operations, which resulted in over 70 terrorist combatants, including three notable terrorist commanders, being neutralised. The terrorist commanders neutralised include and are not limited to the following: Talha (Terrorist Special Forces Commander), Mallam Umar (Terrorist Operations commander) and Abu Yazeed (Terrorist Brigade Commander). “
Maj Gen Buba disclosed that though the terrorists deployed sophisticated weapons, such as Improvised Explosive Devices and drones, as well as motorised suicide bombers during the clash, the troops of Operation HADIN KA displayed gallantry and superior tactics. Unfortunately, 22 soldiers were killed in the encounter while many sustained injuries.
Buba said, “Meanwhile, during the operations, the terrorist deployed Improvised Explosive Devices, Person Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (suicide bombers) as well as Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (suicide bombers in explosive vehicles) to ward off troops advance and attacks.
“The troops, who were already familiar with the terrorists’ tactics, thwarted several terrorist attempts, including shooting down the amateur drones used by the terrorist.”
He added, “Overall, during the operations, 22 soldiers were killed in action and several others wounded.“
Buba appealed to the media not to publish the names of dead troops to allow the army to formally notify their families.
THEWILL recalls that Borno State became the theatre of renewed attacks by Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa, ISWAP, since the New year.
On January 4, 2024, the terror group launched a deadly attack on the military’s Forward Operating Base in the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State. Six soldiers and 34 terrorists died in the ensuing gun battle.
At least 40 farmers have been killed in an attack by the terror groups on January 13, 2024, in Dumba on the shores of Lake Chad.
Confirming the attack as the handwork of Boko Haram/ISWAP, Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum and his Information Commissioner, Usman Tar, said the groups rounded up dozens of farmers in Dumba on the shores of Lake Chad and shot them.
“An initial report indicated that 40 farmers were killed while the whereabouts of many who escaped the attack are being traced for reunion with their families,” Tar said.
Although the state government ordered soldiers “to track and obliterate” the insurgents operating around Dumba and their enclaves in the wider Lake Chad area, Tar added that the farmers “strayed off” the safe limit set by the armed forces for farming and fishing in the area, which is a sanctuary for fighters from ISWAP and Boko Haram riddled with landmines and “prone to nocturnal attacks.”
On Friday, January 24, 2024, two days after 20 fishermen were killed at Gadan Gari fishing community in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists reportedly killed an army commander, two other military officers and other soldiers at a military base in Malam-Fatori, the headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area of the state, where 149 Battalion of the Nigerian Army is located.
Many Nigerian Army personnel are reportedly still missing, following an attack on a military base in Borno State.
The terror attacks may not end in the near future, if what the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said at the weekend is anything to go by.
He said, “What I tell people is that no country should allow this kind of thing to commence. It is a difficult operation to execute. Extremely difficult.
“Before now, when we had the conventional kind of warfare, you were fighting a country. You know you’re fighting for territory. You want to achieve something.
“But now you are fighting against people who have nothing to lose. It is an ideology they have in their minds. They believe they are right and you are wrong. He believes if he kills you, he’s getting a blessing. If you kill him, he’s going to heaven.
“That’s absolutely nothing to lose. That makes it very difficult and it’s not written on their foreheads. So, how do you identify who is who?”
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
