Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have successfully repelled a terrorist ambush along the Gubio–Damasak road in Borno State, killing 13 insurgents and recovering a large cache of arms and explosives.
According to a statement released by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (JTF), the attack took place on September 3, 2025, when troops were escorting humanitarian aid trucks near Kareto, a community in northern Borno.
The terrorists, suspected to be from Boko Haram or ISWAP, launched the attack using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and gunfire in an attempt to halt the convoy and loot relief materials. However, the troops fought back, overpowering the assailants.
Lieutenant Colonel Uba confirmed that after neutralising the 13 terrorists, the troops carried out a thorough exploitation of the area, recovering the following items:
8 AK-47 rifles
10 AK-47 magazines
Several hundred rounds of 7.62mm ammunition
Camel bag containing military gear
Rolls of detonating cord wires
Multiple primed IEDs
These weapons, according to the military, were intended for further attacks on civilians and security personnel in the region.
Although the military successfully thwarted the attack, the encounter was not without consequences. One soldier was slightly wounded, and four tyres on Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles were damaged.
Additionally, two humanitarian aid trucks were engulfed in flames during the firefight. The military, however, confirmed that the wounded soldier is in stable condition, and the relief materials have been safely secured and moved to Damasak, a major town in the area.
“Unfortunately, a soldier was slightly wounded in action but is stable. Four MRAP tyres were damaged, and two trucks were lost to fire during the encounter,” the military statement read.
The Army assured the public that troops have sustained aggressive clearance operations in the area to deny terrorists freedom of movement and to protect both civilians and humanitarian operations.
“Our forces continue to maintain strong presence in the region to ensure safety of lives and property, especially as humanitarian missions resume in affected communities,” the statement added.
This latest development comes as part of renewed efforts by the Nigerian military to restore peace in the North-East, a region that has faced over a decade of insurgency, displacing millions and claiming thousands of lives.
The military’s Operation HADIN KAI, launched in 2021, is a major counter-insurgency operation aimed at crushing Boko Haram and other terror groups operating in Borno and neighbouring states.
