By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have foiled a terrorist attack on the Kukareta community in the North-East, killing no fewer than 24 insurgents and recovering a cache of arms and ammunition.
The operation, conducted by the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI under Sector 2, took place in the early hours of Thursday following an attack that began shortly after midnight.
According to military authorities, the troops responded swiftly with coordinated offensive and defensive measures, successfully repelling the assault and forcing the attackers to retreat in disarray.
During the encounter, the troops inflicted heavy casualties on the insurgents, while ongoing clearance operations have led to the recovery of weapons, including 18 AK-47 rifles, 3 general-purpose machine guns, 2 PKT anti-aircraft guns, rocket-propelled grenade tubes, mortar tubes, and several rounds of ammunition.
The military also reported that 2 personnel were wounded in action but have since been stabilised, while an armoured vehicle sustained damage during the firefight.
Further exploitation of the battlefield is ongoing, with troops combing the area for additional weapons and tracking fleeing insurgents along withdrawal routes marked by blood trails and abandoned medical supplies.
The military said the successful operation underscores the combat readiness and resilience of troops in sustaining pressure on terrorist elements in the region, adding that operations would continue to consolidate gains and deny insurgents freedom of movement across the theatre of operations.