ABUJA — More than 21 suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters have been killed during a coordinated military operation in Adamawa State, as Nigerian security forces intensified efforts to locate abducted civilians and dismantle terrorist camps operating in difficult terrain.
The operation was carried out on Thursday, August 27, in the Kopre Mountain area of Hong Local Government Area by troops of Operation Hadin Kai working alongside a Special Tactical Team from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
According to the military, the operation resulted in the destruction of a terrorist camp and the recovery of weapons, ammunition and other materials believed to have supported the fighters’ movement and logistics. The offensive was conducted as part of a wider search-and-rescue mission targeting terrorist elements and efforts to free people believed to be held in captivity.
Acting Military Information Officer, Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed the details in a statement issued on Friday. He said the operation involved personnel from the ONSA Tactical Team and newly inducted soldiers of 226 Battalion, deployed to Sector 4 in Adamawa State following a directive from the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu.
Goni said the troops relied on credible intelligence before moving into the mountainous area. The difficult terrain presented operational challenges, but the joint force carried out a stealth insertion before launching an attack against the terrorist position in the early hours of Thursday.
The military said the objective was not limited to striking the terrorist camp but also to create an opportunity for security forces to locate and rescue victims believed to have been abducted by terrorist groups operating in the area. Among those being sought are people taken from Mussa community in May and schoolchildren abducted from Lassa in June.
The troops reportedly encountered the terrorists on two separate occasions during the operation. In the ensuing engagements, more than 21 terrorists were neutralised, according to the military, while several others managed to escape despite sustaining gunshot wounds.
Following the engagements, the joint force took control of the area and proceeded to dismantle the terrorist camp. Military personnel also destroyed logistics infrastructure associated with the camp, an action the authorities said was intended to weaken the ability of the terrorist elements to maintain their presence and continue operations from the location.
The exploitation of the area produced additional recoveries and destruction of equipment considered useful to the terrorists. Several motorcycles and bicycles were destroyed, along with jerry cans containing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which the military believes were being used to support the fighters’ transportation and other logistical requirements.
Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the operational area. The military listed several AK-47 rifles, magazines and a substantial quantity of 7.62mm Special ammunition among the items seized.
The operation is significant because of the nature of the terrain in which the terrorist position was located. Kopre Mountain presents a difficult environment for conventional movement, making intelligence, mobility and coordination particularly important for forces attempting to penetrate and clear such areas.
Goni said the successful operation reflected the ability of the joint force to maintain pressure on terrorist groups even in challenging locations. He highlighted the role of intelligence gathering, tactical coordination and the capacity of troops to deploy combat power into areas where terrorist elements may seek to establish or maintain hideouts.
The military information officer said the action further demonstrated the troops’ ability to disrupt terrorist enclaves and reduce their freedom to operate within the theatre.
The destruction of the camp and its associated logistics infrastructure could also affect the ability of the affected fighters to use the location as a base for movement, storage and coordination. The recovery of weapons and ammunition, meanwhile, provides the security forces with additional evidence of the type of equipment being maintained at the site.
The operation involved cooperation between the regular military formation conducting counter-insurgency operations in the North-East and the Special Tactical Team from the Office of the National Security Adviser. Such coordination was central to the operation, with the military describing the engagement as a demonstration of joint operational capability.
The Military High Command subsequently commended the ONSA Tactical Team and Operation Hadin Kai personnel involved in the mission. The commendation covered their professionalism, resilience, coordination and conduct during the operation.
The military leadership also reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining pressure on Boko Haram and ISWAP elements operating in the North-East. Security forces said they would continue pursuing terrorist fighters, destroying their camps and disrupting the logistical networks that enable them to operate.
Beyond the reported number of terrorists killed, the search-and-rescue dimension of the operation remains an important part of the military’s stated objective. The troops were deployed partly in an effort to locate people abducted during attacks in the area, including the victims taken from Mussa community and the Lassa schoolchildren.
The military said intelligence-led operations would continue as security forces work to locate the abducted persons and dismantle terrorist positions. The approach places emphasis on identifying the locations used by the groups, penetrating their strongholds and disrupting the resources that allow them to move and operate.
The Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, also assured residents that operations would continue against terrorist elements across the theatre. It said the focus would remain on rescuing abducted people, dismantling terrorist strongholds, destroying their logistics and restricting the groups’ ability to operate.
For communities affected by insecurity, the operation represents another effort by security forces to take the fight directly into areas used by terrorist groups. The destruction of the Kopre Mountain camp and the reported recovery of firearms and ammunition are intended to reduce the operational space available to the fighters.
However, the military’s statement did not indicate that all the terrorists involved in the operation were eliminated. Several fighters reportedly escaped with gunshot wounds, meaning security forces could still face threats from surviving members who retreat into surrounding areas.
The reported escape also underscores the continuing importance of intelligence and follow-up operations after the destruction of a terrorist position. With the security forces maintaining that some abducted victims are still being sought, subsequent operations may be necessary to establish their whereabouts and prevent surviving fighters from rebuilding their presence.
The August 27 operation therefore combined three immediate objectives: striking terrorist personnel, dismantling a camp and its support infrastructure, and advancing efforts to locate and rescue abducted civilians. The military said the coordinated action demonstrated its ability to operate in difficult terrain while maintaining pressure on terrorist groups in Adamawa.
Operation Hadin Kai and its partner security units are expected to sustain intelligence-driven operations across the North-East as the authorities continue efforts to degrade Boko Haram and ISWAP networks and deny them the freedom to establish bases from which they can threaten surrounding communities.
Joint troops kill more than 21 Boko Haram, ISWAP fighters in Adamawa operation
