Nigerian military forces have successfully repelled coordinated midnight attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists targeting Monguno town and Bitta community in the volatile Lake Chad region. The swift and decisive response by troops resulted in the deaths of several insurgents, including a senior terrorist commander, as well as the recovery of weapons and propaganda equipment.
According to military sources, the foiled assaults occurred around 2:30 a.m. when the terrorists launched simultaneous offensives on both locations in what appeared to be a desperate bid to reclaim lost ground. The troops of Operation Hadin Kai, under the command of the Northeast Joint Taskforce, stood their ground and inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers.
In Bitta community, troops engaged the assailants in a fierce gun duel that lasted several minutes. Among those killed was a high-ranking insurgent identified as Ibn Khalid, believed to be a Senior Quiad Commander. Security sources disclosed that a terrorist cameraman, allegedly responsible for producing propaganda videos, was also gunned down during the encounter.
Confirming the development, the Theater Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, disclosed that at least 17 terrorists were neutralized during a series of operations that extended beyond Monguno and Bitta into parts of the Sambisa Forest. These counterinsurgency efforts also reached Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State and Kaga Local Government Area in Borno State.
General Abubakar further revealed that several insurgents fled the scene with varying degrees of gunshot injuries. Blood trails were reportedly found along escape routes, indicating that more fatalities may have occurred among those who attempted to flee.
During post-operation mop-up, the military recovered a cache of arms and equipment from the battlegrounds. Items seized included two AK-47 rifle magazines, several rounds of 7.26mm special ammunition, a PKT machine gun belt, a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) bomb, and a camcorder believed to be used by the insurgents for filming propaganda content.
Monguno, which serves as the administrative headquarters of Northern Borno, lies strategically on the edge of the Lake Chad basin. It also hosts Sector 3 of Operation Hadin Kai as well as facilities of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
Though civil governance and relative peace have returned to Monguno town, many surrounding communities remain deserted due to the lingering threat of insurgency and ongoing reconstruction challenges.
The Nigerian military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist enclaves, emphasizing that no inch of Nigerian territory would be allowed to serve as a safe haven for criminal elements.