By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
Troops have sustained operational momentum across the North-East, recording major successes against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists while ensuring peaceful Eid-el-Adha celebrations in the region.
The Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), in conjunction with Operation Desert Sanity V/Siege Operations, disclosed that troops foiled terrorist attacks, neutralised insurgents, arrested criminal collaborators and rescued abducted civilians during recent operations across the theatre.
According to the military, troops successfully thwarted coordinated terrorist activities along the Buratai–Chara axis in after surveillance systems detected a large number of Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters attempting to advance within the area.
The troops reportedly engaged the terrorists with offensive firepower, forcing them to retreat, while Quick Response Forces pursued the fleeing insurgents and inflicted heavy casualties on them.
Military authorities disclosed that 169 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered during the operation, adding that no casualty was recorded among troops.
In another operation, troops of the 27 Task Force Brigade, alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and local hunters, carried out a successful ambush around Kasaicia village in Gujba Local Government Area of .
The operation led to the neutralisation of four Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, while troops recovered two AK-47 rifles with empty magazines.
Similarly, troops of Sector 1 OPHK foiled another terrorist attack along the Kirawa axis, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers and maintaining control of the area.
The military further stated that coordinated offensive operations were conducted along the Damboa–Kanama, Damboa–Gwoza, Goniri axis and Forward Operating Base Azir, aimed at restricting terrorists’ movement and reinforcing operational dominance across key corridors.
In separate counter-criminal operations, troops arrested three suspected armed robbers at Gar Gwigwi village in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State following credible intelligence.
Items recovered from the suspects included mobile phones, wristwatches, charms, cash, a dagger and a dane gun, which was later returned to its owner after verification.
Troops also apprehended a suspected terrorist collaborator in Monguno and arrested a suspected drug peddler in Mubi South Local Government Area of with substances suspected to be cannabis sativa.
Meanwhile, troops rescued additional abducted civilians along the Ngoshe–Amuda axis, bringing the total number of rescued persons from the Ngoshe incident to 69.
In another development, a kidnapped civilian rescued in the Gwoza axis disclosed that he escaped from terrorist captivity due to sustained military pressure and bombardment of terrorist enclaves within the Mandara Mountains.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations and strengthening civil-military cooperation to restore lasting peace and security across the North-East region.