RismadarVoice Reporters, April 23, 2026
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have successfully foiled a coordinated terrorist attack on Kukareta in Borno State, killing at least 24 insurgents and recovering a large cache of weapons.
The attack, which began shortly after midnight on Thursday and lasted for about three hours, was met with what military authorities described as a “swift and coordinated response” by troops under Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force (North East).
According to a statement by the Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the troops adopted a combined offensive and defensive strategy that effectively contained the assault and forced the attackers to retreat in disarray.
“During the engagement, troops inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers, with 24 terrorists neutralised so far,” the statement said, noting that follow-up operations are ongoing.
Troops also recovered a significant quantity of arms and ammunition from the scene. Items recovered include 18 AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns, two PKT anti-aircraft guns, three rocket-propelled grenade tubes, two mortar tubes, and four hand grenades. Additional recoveries include 18 AK-47 magazines and large volumes of 7.62mm ammunition.
The military confirmed that two soldiers were wounded in action but have since been stabilised. An armoured tank deployed as reinforcement was also damaged during the firefight, with all its tyres blown out.
Security forces are continuing exploitation operations along the terrorists’ withdrawal routes, where traces of blood and abandoned medical supplies suggest further casualties among the fleeing fighters.
The military described the operation as a demonstration of the troops’ resilience and combat readiness, adding that sustained offensives will continue to deny terrorist groups freedom of movement across the North-East theatre.
Operation HADIN KAI is the Nigerian military’s ongoing counterinsurgency campaign targeting insurgent groups in the region.
