The Nigerian Army has confirmed dozens of military casualties and the killing of over 60 insurgents in the Timbuktu Triangle area of Borno during a gunfight with terrorists.

The DHQ disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

“Due to the pressure on the terrorists and a sign of desperation and last resort, on 24 January 2025 at about 7:10 p.m., the terrorists cowardly rammed into troops at their harbour position with a vehicle-borne IED at Gardiri base, killing a commanding officer, two officers and some of our very brave men while injuring 20 others,” the statement explained.

It reported that at least 60 terrorists were killed in week-long military operations, seizing 14 AK-47 rifles, six RPG tubes, 18 motorcycles and 24 AK-47 magazines.

The operations conducted by troops Operation Hadin Kai, according to the DHQ, began on January 16, 2025, and focused on dismantling terrorist enclaves in the region.

“Based on this development, a comprehensive review of the operation is being carried out to enable a re-launch,” the DHQ added.

On January 16, 2025, troops of Operation HADIN KAI kicked off DESERT SANITY IV as part of a wider measure to completely defeat the terrorists in the North East Region. In the course of the operation, troops dislodged terrorists from their enclaves in Jemyeri, Abulam, Agum and Digamari.

The military said its troops “stormed” the ISWAP training camp at Garin Baban Alhassan, destroyed the camp and killed 18 insurgents, including “three notorious commanders identified as Talha, the ISWAP women leader, Mallam Umar the RPG trainer and Abu Yazeed the ISWAP Brigade Commander in the Timbuktu Triangle.”

On January 22, at about 2:40 p.m., troops of 199 SF Bn, Combat Teams 6 and 8, “married up at Gardiri for the final onslaught on the notorious terrorist enclave,” clearing terrorist camps at Burbur, Lamisuri, Kassachia and Buk destroying “all life-supporting structures within these strongholds,” as precursor operations.

(NAN)