Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), operating under Sector 2 of Operation HADIN KAI in Goniri, Yobe State, have successfully repelled coordinated attacks by suspected ISWAP terrorists, killing more than 20 insurgents during a fierce overnight battle.
The attacks, which began on Monday night, March 9, and continued into the early hours of Tuesday, March 10, saw the troops come under heavy assault from multiple directions.
Military sources said the terrorists were first detected through surveillance assets advancing simultaneously from Goniri village and the Ngamdu junction axis in what appeared to be an attempt to encircle the military formation.
However, the troops responded swiftly with superior firepower and tactical manoeuvres, effectively coordinating their defence and preventing the insurgents from overrunning the location.
Reinforcements were immediately deployed, while the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI provided close air support, significantly weakening the terrorists’ combat capability.
During the intense exchange of fire, the insurgents were overwhelmed and forced to retreat in disarray after suffering heavy casualties.
Among those killed was a senior commander identified as Abu Yusu, the Munzir of Dursula.
Troops later recovered several bodies of the insurgents as well as weapons and equipment abandoned during the retreat.
Items recovered include machine guns, AK-47 rifles, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), bombs and assorted ammunition.
Further exploitation and clearance operations carried out by troops in the Gwaigomari area of the Timbuktu Triangle also led to the discovery of additional terrorist bodies during follow-up patrols that continued into the early hours of Wednesday, March 11.
Some soldiers who sustained injuries during the encounter were evacuated for medical treatment and are reported to be in stable condition.
The military confirmed that the Goniri location remains firmly under the control of Operation HADIN KAI troops, while ground forces, supported by air assets, have launched aggressive follow-up operations in surrounding communities where fleeing insurgents are suspected to have taken refuge.
The military high command commended the troops for their gallantry and resilience, urging them to sustain the operational momentum in the fight against terrorism in the North-East