At least one ISWAP fighter has been captured alive, while a top commander identified as Abu Umar Bundi Munzir was neutralised alongside 24 other insurgents in Borno State. The development followed a foiled coordinated attack on Kukareta community by troops of Operation HADIN KAI.
The Theatre Commander, North-East Operation HADIN KAI, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar disclosed this on Thursday in Maiduguri while giving a situational update on the failed assault.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the insurgents launched the attack shortly after midnight in an attempt to overrun the location but were decisively engaged by troops of Sector 2 in a sustained counter-offensive that lasted until about 3:00 a.m. Abubakar said the terrorists suffered heavy losses during the encounter.
“During the encounter, the terrorists’ commander, Abu Umar Bundi Munzir, was among those neutralised as troops repelled the assault and forced the remaining attackers into a disorganised withdrawal,” he said.
The commander confirmed that 24 other insurgents were also killed, bringing the total number neutralised to 25.
“Troops subsequently conducted exploitation of the battlefield, leading to the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition, including 18 AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns, two PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns and three RPG tubes.
“Others include two mortar tubes, four hand grenades, 18 AK-47 magazines, and large quantities of belted 7.62mm ammunition,” Abubakar stated.
He added that two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds during the firefight but have since been stabilised, while an armoured reinforcement vehicle had its tyres damaged.
“Further exploitation operations are ongoing to recover fleeing terrorists’ bodies and abandoned equipment along withdrawal routes reportedly marked by blood trails and medical items,” he added.
Abubakar described the operation as a significant success in ongoing counter-insurgency efforts, noting that sustained pressure would be maintained to deny terrorist elements freedom of action in the North-East theatre.
