Troops of Sector 2 of the Northeast Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai have killed 24 Boko Haram fighters in Kukareta community, Damaturu Local Council of Yobe State. The insurgents were neutralized during a failed attack on the community in the early hours of yesterday.
Failed Assault on Border Community
The Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Col Sani Uba, stated that troops stationed in the border community with Borno State repelled a coordinated assault on Kukareta village, located along the Damaturu–Maiduguri road. The attack began shortly after midnight and continued until about 3:00 a.m.
Uba explained: “The dawn attack was met with a swift and coordinated response by the vigilant troops, who executed a deliberate offensive-defensive action that effectively contained the assault and forced the terrorists into a disorderly withdrawal from the community.”
Heavy Casualties Inflicted
During the engagement, troops inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers, killing 24 terrorists. Ongoing exploitation of the battlefield led to the recovery of a significant cache of arms and ammunition, including 18 AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), two PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns, three RPG tubes, two mortar tubes, four hand grenades, 18 AK-47 magazines, and large quantities of belted 7.62mm ammunition for PKT systems.
Casualties and Damage
Two soldiers were injured and have been stabilized, while a reinforcing armoured tank sustained damage, with all tyres blown out during the engagement. Uba added that exploitation operations are ongoing to recover additional bodies and equipment along the terrorists’ withdrawal routes, which showed blood trails and medical consumables.
“This successful operation highlights the resilience, combat readiness and fire superiority of OPHK troops in denying terrorists the freedom of action,” he said.
