Troops of Sector 3, OPERATION HADIN KAI, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, have recovered at least 63 bodies of Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters following a failed infiltration attack on Malam Fatori in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to security analyst and counter insurgence expert, Zagazola Makama, military sources said the insurgents launched the assault in the early hours of Wednesday, advancing on foot and deploying armed drones in an attempt to overrun the 68 Battalion position.
According to the sources, the attack, which originated from the Duguri axis through the frontage of Bravo Company, was met with stiff resistance from troops, bolstered by precision air strikes.
The coordinated response, they said, resulted in a decisive defeat for the attackers, who suffered heavy casualties during the engagement.
“Following the firefight and subsequent clearance operations, a total of 63 terrorist bodies were recovered within and around Malam Fatori, underscoring the scale of losses inflicted on the insurgents,” a military source said.
The Air Component was also said to have conducted multiple interdiction missions, delivering accurate strikes on identified enemy positions and significantly degrading their fighting capability.
“The synergy between air and ground forces ensured the terrorists were fixed and neutralised in large numbers, forcing the remnants to retreat in disarray towards the Arege axis,” the source added.
Sources further disclosed that allied Nigerien forces carried out supportive strike missions, piling pressure on the fleeing insurgents, although full battle damage assessment from those operations is still ongoing.
On own casualties, four soldiers were said to have sustained minor injuries during the encounter and have since been treated and stabilised.
The sources noted that while the situation in the area remains relatively calm, it is still unpredictable, with troops maintaining heightened vigilance to prevent further attacks.
