By Gabriel Ameh
Troops of the Nigerian military’s Operation HADIN KAI have reportedly killed 48 terrorists and recovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition after repelling attacks on two military positions in Borno and Yobe states.
The attacks occurred at Bitta in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State and the North East Theatre Training School (NETTS) in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, between October 29 and 30, 2026.
The Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed the development in a statement.
According to the statement, troops at Bitta successfully repelled an attempted terrorist assault on the night of October 29 through a coordinated response involving ground forces and air support.
The military said the operation disrupted the attackers’ advance and inflicted heavy casualties on the insurgents.
In a related engagement, troops launched a counter-offensive against a large group of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters who attacked the North East Theatre Training School in Buni Yadi.
The military said the engagement, which lasted approximately five hours from October 29 into the early hours of October 30, was coordinated by the Theatre Command.
It involved intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities, alongside air and ground assets.
The counter-offensive reportedly left 48 terrorists dead, while troops recovered a substantial quantity of weapons and ammunition.
Items recovered included 42 AK-47 rifles, five PKT machine guns, four General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), one 60mm mortar, 105 AK-47 magazines and two video cameras.
The recovered ammunition comprised 30 rounds of 12.7mm armour-piercing incendiary ammunition, 2,738 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 223 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition and 2,054 rounds of PKT ammunition.
However, the military disclosed that one soldier lost his life during the engagements, while two others sustained minor injuries and were receiving medical attention.
Captain Goni said the morale of troops remained high as military operations continued against terrorist groups across the North-East theatre.
The military described the latest engagements as evidence of improved operational coordination and the determination of troops to restrict the activities of insurgents.
The reported casualties and recovery of weapons and ammunition represent another claimed setback for terrorist groups operating in the region.
Source: Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI.
