Troops of the 27 Task Force Brigade under Sector 2 of Operation HADIN KAI have foiled an ambush by suspected Boko Haram terrorists along the Buni Gari-Buratai axis in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.
The operation also led to the discovery and dismantling of several makeshift camps believed to have served as temporary hideouts and staging points for the insurgents.
The Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force, North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Goni said the soldiers encountered the terrorists while conducting a routine patrol along the axis and responded to the attack, forcing the assailants to retreat from the area.
Following the initial engagement, reinforcements were deployed to the location. The troops then cleared the ambush site and searched the surrounding terrain for further signs of terrorist activity.
The sweep exposed several makeshift camps which the military assessed to have been used by the terrorists as temporary staging and concealment points.
Among the items recovered during the operation were a motorcycle, bicycles, a magazine, ammunition, and rocket-propelled grenade bombs.
The military said no member of the troops was killed or injured during the encounter. However, some military vehicles sustained damage from the engagement.
Despite the damage to the vehicles, Goni said the troops successfully completed their assignment and continued with their operational duties.
He described the operation as another demonstration of the determination of troops deployed under Operation HADIN KAI to disrupt terrorist activities and restrict the movement of insurgents across the theatre.
“The operation underscores the resolve and fighting spirit of troops of Operation HADIN KAI to deny terrorist elements freedom of action, disrupt their activities and protect communities across the theatre,” he said.
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The operation is significant because the military action extended beyond repelling the ambush. The subsequent search of the area enabled the troops to identify and dismantle locations allegedly used by the terrorists for temporary shelter and preparation for operations.
The discovery of the camps also provided the troops with additional recovered equipment, including ammunition and explosives associated with the terrorists.
Goni described the security situation within the troops’ area of responsibility as calm but unpredictable. He noted that soldiers were continuing with patrols and coordinated operations.
“The general security situation within the area of responsibility remains calm but unpredictable, as troops continue to maintain aggressive patrols and other coordinated security operations to safeguard lives and property,” he said.
The military also called on residents to pay attention to unusual movements and promptly alert security agencies whenever they encounter suspicious persons or activities.
According to the statement, information supplied by members of the public is important to efforts aimed at detecting and disrupting terrorist operations.
In the Buni Gari-Buratai axis, the military said the immediate objective was achieved: the ambush was broken up, the attackers were pushed out of the area, suspected temporary camps were dismantled, and weapons-related materials were recovered.
