Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, backed by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), have neutralised no fewer than 80 insurgents in a coordinated night operation in Borno State.

The engagement occurred in Mallam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area, where terrorists reportedly attempted to infiltrate the 68 Battalion’s defensive position in the early hours of the day.

According to the operation’s spokesman, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, the attackers advanced on foot with drone support from the Duguri axis but were met with a well-coordinated “offensive-defensive” response by troops at about 12:50 a.m.

Among those killed were three senior commanders identified as Abdulrahman Gobara, Mallam Ba Yuram and Abou Ayyuba, alongside several other fighters.

Uba said the troops, supported by precision close air support from the NAF and allied Nigerien air assets, successfully disrupted and routed the insurgents.

He noted that the operation led to the recovery of a significant cache of weapons and equipment, including 52 AK-47 rifles, eight PKT machine guns, seven RPG launchers, five general-purpose machine guns, over 3,000 rounds of ammunition, improvised explosive devices, communication radios and drone components.

Despite the scale of the attack, only four soldiers were reported wounded, as the military maintained minimal casualties.

Military authorities described the operation as a major blow to insurgent command structures and operational capacity in the region, adding that further battle damage assessments are ongoing.

In a related development, NAF airstrikes conducted earlier targeted terrorist hideouts in Abirma and the southern Lake Chad axis. According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, surveillance identified concealed insurgent positions under dense vegetation, which were subsequently destroyed using precision-guided munitions.

The strikes are said to have significantly degraded the terrorists’ ability to use the area as a staging ground for attacks across the Lake Chad Basin.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has visited Maiduguri following recent improvised explosive device (IED) explosions, where he assessed the security situation and engaged with victims and frontline personnel.

During the visit, the IGP stopped at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital to meet with those injured in the blasts. He expressed sympathy to victims and their families, assuring them of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to tracking down and dismantling those responsible for the attacks.

He also conducted an on-the-spot assessment at the Maiduguri Monday Market, one of the locations affected by the explosions. While there, he engaged security personnel to evaluate response strategies and strengthen operational coordination.

As part of efforts to reinforce inter-agency collaboration, the police chief visited the Borno State Government House and the State Police Command Headquarters, where discussions focused on improving synergy between federal and state security agencies.

The IGP noted that security measures across Maiduguri and surrounding areas have been intensified, including increased patrols, enhanced surveillance, and joint operations.

Residents were also reassured of the police force’s resolve to safeguard lives and property in the aftermath of the attacks.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the recent terrorist attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State, describing the incident as “profoundly upsetting” and extending condolences to families of the victims.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the President sympathised with those injured and reaffirmed his solidarity with the people of Borno during what he called a difficult time.

Tinubu said the attacks were “desperate and frantic attempts” by terrorist elements seeking to instil fear, noting that such groups are under sustained pressure from the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies.

He commended the military and civilian task forces for their bravery in repelling coordinated assaults on security formations in the state, assuring that ongoing operations would be intensified to eliminate criminal elements across the country.

The President disclosed that he had recently approved additional equipment and operational support for security agencies following a meeting with heads of security and intelligence services. He added that the deployment of these resources is already underway.

Tinubu also directed security chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri to oversee operations and instructed emergency response agencies to ensure proper medical care for the injured.

Reiterating his administration’s resolve, the President declared that terrorists would find no safe haven anywhere in Nigeria, vowing that they would be tracked down and defeated.

“Nigeria will not succumb to fear,” he said.