By Tola Gbadamosi
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have successfully repelled multiple coordinated attacks by terrorists across several locations in the North-East, dealing a decisive blow to insurgents attempting to overrun military positions in the early hours of Thursday, October 23, 2025.
According to a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North-East Operation Hadin Kai, the assaults occurred between midnight and 4:00 a.m. in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo and Katarko covering operational Sectors 1 and 2 in Borno and Yobe States respectively.
Uba said the troops “stood firm, fought gallantly and professionally repelled the attacks,” inflicting heavy casualties on the terrorists. Backed by the Air Component Command of OPHK, the ground forces launched a coordinated counteroffensive, supported by precision airstrikes and real-time intelligence from surveillance and reconnaissance assets.
The combined operation resulted in the neutralisation of over 50 terrorists, while 38 AK-47 rifles, 7 PKT machine guns, 5 RPG tubes, 2 GPMGs, hand grenades and thousands of rounds of ammunition were recovered. He added that more than 70 fleeing insurgents wounded during the clashes are being pursued by ground troops with air support.
Intelligence reports revealed that the terrorists who attacked Dikwa and Gajibo advanced from the Cameroon axis, while those who struck Katarko came from the notorious Timbuktu Triangle, a known terrorist enclave.
While some soldiers sustained injuries during the fierce battle, Uba confirmed that they are in stable condition. He also noted that a few vehicles and structures in Mafa and Dikwa were damaged after the terrorists deployed armed drones and rocket-propelled grenades, momentarily breaching parts of the defensive line.
The Military High Command has since commended the bravery and professionalism of the troops, describing their action as a testament to the Nigerian military’s renewed vigor and capacity to defend the nation’s territorial integrity.
“Their steadfast performance once again reaffirms the military’s unwavering resolve to protect the country from all threats, especially with the deployment of additional troops and critical combat enablers into the Theatre,” the statement added.