Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully repelled a coordinated terrorist attack on a military formation in Benisheikh.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja.
According to the statement, the troops of the 29 Task Force Brigade came under attack at about 12:30 a.m. on Thursday when insurgents attempted to breach the defensive perimeter of the Brigade Headquarters.
It stated that the troops, led by the Commander, 29 Brigade, Oseni Braimah, responded with superior firepower and professionalism, forcing the attackers to retreat in disarray.
“The insurgents were decisively engaged and forced to abandon their mission, leaving behind traces of their failed assault,” the statement said.
The DHQ described the attack as an indication of desperation by terrorist elements following sustained losses from ongoing military operations in the North-East.
It added that the swift response by troops demonstrated a high level of combat readiness and operational effectiveness in protecting critical military installations.
The statement, however, confirmed that the encounter resulted in the loss of some soldiers during the exchange.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, describing their sacrifice as heroic and a source of national pride.
He also extended condolences to the families of the deceased and urged the public and media to allow the military to formally notify the next of kin before further details are released.
The DHQ further advised the public to disregard misinformation and unverified reports circulating on social media, noting that such content could undermine ongoing operations.
It added that additional clearance operations were ongoing in the area to track and neutralise fleeing insurgents and prevent them from regrouping.
The military urged citizens to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, while continuing to support security agencies with credible information to aid ongoing operations.
