In a major success against insurgent forces, gallant troops of Operation HADIN KAI have neutralized twelve (12) fighters from the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist factions in coordinated offensives carried out in the early hours of Thursday, June 5, 2025, at Mallam Fatori and Buratai, Borno State.
According to reliable military sources, the well-planned joint operation followed actionable intelligence on the movement and convergence of insurgents in the two notorious flashpoints located near the fringes of the Lake Chad region and southern Borno.
In Mallam Fatori, troops from Sector 3 of Operation HADIN KAI engaged a group of terrorists attempting to regroup after recent displacement by air and artillery bombardments. A fierce firefight ensued, leading to the killing of seven insurgents, while others fled with gunshot wounds.
Simultaneously, in Buratai axis — the hometown of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd) — troops carried out a surprise clearance operation that resulted in the elimination of five more terrorists and recovery of weapons, including AK-47 rifles, rounds of ammunition, and improvised explosive device (IED) materials.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, who confirmed the development, commended the troops for their courage and precision. He noted that the operation was part of the military’s continued effort to dismantle the remaining strongholds of terrorist groups and restore enduring peace to the North-East region.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces remain resolute in our mission to defeat terrorism and secure every inch of our national territory. We commend the bravery of our troops and urge communities to continue supporting the military with timely intelligence,” the statement read.
Residents of nearby communities expressed relief at the growing presence of military operations, noting improved safety in areas that were once strongholds of extremist control.
Operation HADIN KAI, launched to replace Operation LAFIYA DOLE, has recorded a series of successes in degrading Boko Haram and ISWAP networks, and the recent offensive further signals the military’s intensified efforts to bring the long-running insurgency to a definitive end.
