In a major counteroffensive, Nigerian military troops repelled a coordinated midnight infiltration attempt by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists targeting Monguno town and Bitta community in the Lake Chad region.
The fierce gun battle, which occurred around 2:30 a.m., led to the killing of scores of insurgents, including a senior commander identified as Ibn Khalid and a terrorist cameraman. The clash in Bitta, located in southern Borno State, saw Nigerian Army troops thwart the attempted breach with superior firepower and tactical response.
Confirming the development, Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, revealed that a total of 17 terrorists were neutralized across multiple locations during coordinated operations. These included engagements in parts of Sambisa Forest stretching across Madagali Local Government Area in Adamawa State and Kaga in Borno State.
"While retreating, the terrorists left behind traces of blood, indicating that several others fled with severe injuries," said Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam.
Recovered from the scene were lethal items, including two AK-47 magazines, 7.26mm special ammunition, a PKT machine gun belt, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) bomb, and a camcorder likely used for propaganda purposes.
Monguno, located at the northern edge of Borno State near Lake Chad, serves as the operational headquarters of Sector 3 of Operation Hadin Kai and the Multinational Joint Task Force. While civil authority and normalcy have returned to Monguno town, many nearby Lake Chad communities remain abandoned and in need of reconstruction.
This operation marks yet another tactical success in Nigeria's continued efforts to reclaim and stabilize the northeast region from insurgent threats.
