Troops Kill 18 Terrorists, Destroy Enclaves in Timbuktu, Bulabulin Forest Offensive
Troops of the Operation HADIN KAI have sustained offensive operations against terrorist elements under Operation Desert Sanity V, neutralising scores of insurgents and destroying several enclaves in coordinated ground and air assaults.
This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East).
He said the operations involved troops of Sector 2 operating along the Azir Bridge on the Timbuktu axis and the Bulabulin Forest area, in close coordination with the Air Component Command of Operation HADIN KAI.
According to Uba, troops on the Bulabulin Forest axis, working alongside the Sector 2 Stabilisation Force Brigade and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, cleared terrorist enclaves at Mar, Subdu, Yaro Lawanti and Yaro Shuwari, as well as other areas contiguous to the Bulabulin Forest and Kamadogu-Yobe stretch.
He said the troops made contact with terrorists at Malam Shiri village and engaged them in a coordinated flanking manoeuvre supported by assault air platforms.
“During the encounter, troops neutralised 11 terrorists, while others fled with varying degrees of injuries.
“All life-support structures used by the terrorists were destroyed, while exploitation of the area led to the recovery of nine AK-47 rifles, three PKT anti-aircraft automatic machine guns, five motorcycles, assorted ammunition and materials used for Improvised Explosive Devices,” he said.
Uba further disclosed that troops also recorded successes along the Timbuktu axis on the Wajiroko–Sabongari corridor, where they engaged terrorist elements with support from the air component.
He said seven terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, while blood trails and other signs suggested additional casualties among fleeing insurgents.
Items recovered from the area included AK-47 rifles, Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) tubes, a large cache of ammunition, bandoliers and communication equipment.
The spokesman said the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI played a decisive role in both operations by providing Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) support, enabling precise targeting and real-time coordination with ground troops.
He added that precision air interdiction strikes were conducted on confirmed terrorist positions and fleeing elements, further weakening the insurgents’ operational capability.
Uba said troops, in collaboration with volunteer forces, were currently conducting follow-up operations along the Forfor, Multe and Wajiroko axes to consolidate gains and prevent regrouping by fleeing terrorists.
He noted that the operations demonstrated the sustained operational effectiveness and dominance of troops across the North-East theatre.
