Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Hadin Kai, have repelled a coordinated drone attack by Boko Haram insurgents during clearance operations in the Timbuktu Triangle area of Borno State.
According to a statement on Monday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North East), Lt. Col. Sani Uba, the troops came under attack on Sunday while advancing from their harbour location following intelligence-led operations targeting identified terrorist enclaves.
He said the insurgents made several attempts to disrupt the offensive using armed drones, but the troops maintained their advance, forcing the terrorists to withdraw. The operation was supported by aerial assets providing sustained Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, which helped block insurgent reinforcements and boosted the effectiveness of ground forces.
During the operation, troops recovered a cache of weapons, logistics and supplies belonging to Boko Haram and ISWAP elements. Items seized included communication equipment, mobile phones, ammunition, terrorist flags, medical supplies, food items, diesel-powered equipment, a pickup truck and hidden logistics stores.
Military authorities said the recovery would significantly degrade the operational capability of the insurgents in the area.
Lt. Col. Uba added that troops remain highly motivated and that clearance operations will continue as efforts are intensified to restore peace and protect civilians across the North-East.
The incident also underscores the increasing use of unmanned aerial systems by insurgent groups in the region, a development that has raised security concerns in recent months.
