Troops under Sector 2, Joint Task Force North East, Operation Operation Hadin Kai, have neutralised 24 terrorists while repelling a coordinated night attack on Kukareta, a border community between Borno and Yobe States.
Military sources said the attack began around midnight on Thursday and lasted until about 3:00 a.m., before troops successfully contained the assault following a fierce exchange of fire.
Kukareta, located along the Maiduguri–Damaturu road, is about 25 kilometres from Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. Security operatives said the troops inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers during the encounter.
Two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving medical attention.
According to security sources, troops recovered a significant cache of weapons from the terrorists, including 18 AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), two PKT anti-aircraft guns, three Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tubes, two mortar tubes, four hand grenades, and 18 AK-47 magazines. Large quantities of 7.62mm special ammunition were also recovered.
The successful defence of Kukareta was described as a major operational achievement, highlighting the continued pressure being mounted on insurgent groups across the North-East theatre.
In separate operations, troops of Operation Hadin Kai also repelled coordinated attacks on Kanama, Ngoshe, and Banki communities in Borno State, with insurgents reportedly overpowered and forced to retreat without causing significant damage.
Follow-up air interdiction missions were conducted in several locations, including Sowolwolo in the Sambisa Forest, where multiple terrorist elements were neutralised, further degrading their operational capacity.
Another airstrike at Kaniram in the Mallam Fatori axis reportedly targeted insurgents during burial activities following earlier precision strikes, resulting in additional casualties among the fighters.
In a search-and-rescue operation along the Maiduguri–Monguno axis, troops of the 26 Brigade successfully rescued 15 women and children who had been abducted by terrorists. The victims are currently receiving humanitarian support before being reunited with their families.
Separately, suspected members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) launched projectile attacks toward Gwoza, though no casualties or damage were recorded.
Military officials described the series of operations as a significant boost to ongoing counter-insurgency efforts, noting that sustained pressure is being maintained against terrorist groups across the region.
