Twenty-two soldiers and over 70 insurgents were killed in an ongoing military operation in the Timbuktu Triangle, a notorious terrorist stronghold in Borno State.
The spokesperson Defence Headquarters, Maj Gen. Edward Buba, stated this on Sunday, adding that the operation, conducted by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, began on January 16, 2025, and has focused on dismantling terrorist enclaves in the region.
Buba said the operation had resulted in several encounters with insurgents leading to the killing of three high-ranking commanders Terrorist Special Forces Commander, Talha; the Operations Commander, Malam Umar; and the Brigade Commander, Abu Yazeed.
Buba said during the operations, the terrorists used Improvised Explosive Devices, suicide bombers, and drones, adding, however that the troops repelled these attempts.
Buba said, “Meanwhile during the operations, the terrorist deployed Improvised Explosive Devices, Person Bourne Improvised Explosive Devices (suicide bombers) as well as Vehicle Bourne Improvised Explosive Devices (suicide bombers in explosive vehicles) to ward off troops advance and attacks.
“Troops, already familiar with the terrorist tactics, thwarted several terrorist attempts, including shooting down the amateur drones used by the terrorist.”
Buba, while acknowledging the loss of 22 soldiers, appealed for restraint from the media in publishing the names of fallen troops to allow formal notification of their families.
He said, “Overall, during the course of the operations, troops sadly recorded 22 killed-in-action casualties with several others wounded in action. On this account, the media is enjoined to resist publishing names of troop casualties to allow the formal notification of their next of kin.”
