By Ayomide Otitoju
Troops of Sector 2, Operation Hadin Kai, have thwarted an attempt by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists to extort residents in Yobe State, dealing another blow to the insurgent group’s operations.
The Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the operation was launched following credible intelligence on the movement of terrorists travelling in two Volkswagen Golf vehicles and motorcycles to collect illegal levies from local communities.
According to Goni, troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bukarti, in collaboration with the 27 Task Force Brigade, carried out an aggressive fighting patrol along the Paya Kafiya axis on July 19.
The troops made contact with the terrorists and engaged them with what the military described as overwhelming firepower.
During the exchange of fire, one of the Volkswagen Golf vehicles was disabled, while its driver was killed. Four other suspected terrorists reportedly fled into nearby bushes with gunshot wounds after abandoning the vehicle.
A follow-up exploitation operation conducted on July 20 along the Paya Kafiya–Garin Gada axis led to the recovery of the abandoned vehicle, 25 rounds of belted PKT ammunition, one loaded AK-47 magazine, 15 empty PKT ammunition cases, assorted drugs, including paracetamol and nicotine products, as well as mechanical tools believed to have supported the terrorists’ logistics operations.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-led offensive operations against terrorist groups in collaboration with other security agencies.
Operation Hadin Kai also urged members of the public to continue supporting security forces with credible information as efforts continue to restore lasting peace, security and stability across the North-East.
