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Troops of Operation HADIN KAI in North East of the country, have eliminated over 70 terrorist combatants including 3 notable terrorist commanders following clearance operations conducted to renowned terrorist strongholds and enclaves known as Timbuktu Triangle.
According to the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, in a statement on Sunday, the three-pronged operation which was aimed at dismantling the terrorist presence within the triangle commenced on 16 January 2025.
He said troops recorded several encounters with terrorists during the course of the clearance operations which resulted in the numbers of terrorists neutralized.
The terrorist commanders neutralised include TALHA (Terrorist Special Forces Commander), Mallam UMAR (Terrorist Operations commander) and ABU YAZEED (Terrorist Brigade Commander).
The terrorists are said to have deployed Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), Person Bourne Improvised Explosive Devices (suicide bombers) as well as Vehicle Bourne Improvised Explosive Devices (suicide bombers in explosive vehicles) to ward off troops’ advance and attacks.
However, troops already familiar with the terrorists’ tactics thwarted their several attempts, including shooting down their amateur drones.
Sadly, during the course of the operations, 22 soldiers were killed and several others wounded in action.
Buba said that on the whole, the operation was ongoing and assured the public will be updated on further developments in due course.