In a major counterterrorism success, Nigerian ground forces and air components of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have repelled coordinated terrorist attacks in Borno State, killing numerous insurgents and recovering significant weapons caches.
The operations thwarted attempted assaults on military positions in Buratai (Biu LGA) and Mallam Fatori (Abadam LGA) on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
The attack on Buratai – hometown of former Army Chief Lt. General Yusuf Tukur Buratai (Rtd) – occurred in the early hours when terrorists attempted to infiltrate troop positions from multiple angles. According to Captain Reuben Kuvangiya, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for Operation Hadin Kai, troops responded with overwhelming firepower while receiving close air support.
“So far, troops have discovered several lifeless bodies of terrorists and recovered a large cache of assorted arms and ammunition. Troops are currently exploiting the general area,” Kuvangiya reported.
In a simultaneous operation, troops in Mallam Fatori repelled another multi-front attack, forcing insurgents into disorganized retreat after intense combat. The military pursued fleeing terrorists with aerial support from ACC platforms and unmanned drones, inflicting heavy casualties.
“Preliminary discoveries revealed several terrorists killed, with many AK-47 Rifles, General Purpose Machine Guns, Rocket Propelled Guns, and other terrorist equipment have been recovered. Exploitation of the general area is currently ongoing by the determined troops, with Air Component and Nigerian Army Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Command providing air support,” the military spokesperson stated.
Kuvangiya emphasized that “The coordinated efforts, again underscores the determined efforts to jointly deny the terrorists freedom of action by Operation HADIN KAI.”