By ZAKAA LAZARUS
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have once again demonstrated overwhelming combat superiority, decisively crushing a large-scale, coordinated attack by ISWAP terrorists on Headquarters 27 Brigade at Buni Gari and the Buni Gari Checkpoint in the early hours of Thursday, 8 May 2026.
The assault, launched at approximately 0200 hours under the cover of darkness by a large number of terrorists from multiple axes, was met with devastating firepower, tactical brilliance and resolute determination by troops who held their ground and inflicted catastrophic losses on the attackers. No fewer than 50 terrorists were neutralised, while a large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the fleeing remnants.
The terrorists initially launched their assault from the western flank before pushing additional forces from the southern flank along the Ganinga Junction axis and later from the south-western flank in a desperate attempt to encircle own troops. However, troops held their ground with exceptional discipline and tactical composure, employing indirect fires to attrit the enemy while executing an offensive-defensive battle that systematically degraded and dismantled the assault from all axes.
The terrorists were met with such devastating resistance that they retreated in confusion, evacuating some of their killed and wounded as evidenced by trails of blood along their escape routes. At no point was any part of the camp breached, as the integrity of the location remained fully intact throughout the engagement.
Exploitation of the general area confirmed the recovery of 10 terrorist corpses within the immediate vicinity, while human intelligence reports indicate that over 20 additional bodies were scattered across bushes around Gashua, Azare, and Kamuya along the terrorists’ withdrawal routes.
The Air Component Command of OPHK played a decisive and complementary role in the engagement, providing persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) coverage that enabled real-time situational awareness and accurate target acquisition. In a synchronised air–land operation, precision air interdiction strikes were conducted on confirmed terrorist positions and fleeing elements, accounting for an additional 20 terrorists neutralised as aircrafts pursued retreating insurgents along their escape corridors. Subsequent human intelligence confirmed scores of additional dead bodies along the withdrawal routes, further underscoring the magnitude of the defeat inflicted on the terrorists.
Items recovered from the engagement include 8 x AK-47 rifles, 2 x General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), 2 x Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) tubes, 5 x RPG bombs, 3 x RPG chargers, 2 x boxes of 7.62mm ammunition, 2 x fully loaded magazines, 9 x bandoliers of 7.62mm ammunition, and 3 x Improvised Explosive Device (IED) canisters. The volume and variety of weapons and ordnance recovered further expose the scale of the terrorists’ offensive intent and the totality of their failure.
Troops, in conjunction with volunteer forces, are currently conducting aggressive exploitation operations across the general area to consolidate gains, track fleeing terrorists, and deny any attempt at regrouping. Some equipment, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and Gun-Trucks, sustained minimal damage during the engagement. All wounded personnel are stable and receiving appropriate medical attention.
Regrettably, 2 gallant soldiers paid the supreme price in the course of the engagement. Their sacrifice embodies the highest traditions of service, courage, and unwavering commitment to the defence of the nation.
Operation HADIN KAI honours their heroism and the bravery of all personnel who stood firm in the face of a determined but ultimately futile enemy assault. These failed attacks further underscore the growing desperation of terrorist elements who continue to suffer devastating losses under sustained operational pressure. OPHK remains resolute and battle-ready, maintaining operational dominance across the Theatre and ensuring that terrorists are denied freedom of action in any part of the North East region.
