Troops Foil Midnight Assault in Yobe, Neutralize 24 Insurgents

Troops Foil Midnight Assault in Yobe, Neutralize 24 Insurgents

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully repelled a coordinated attack by insurgents on a military base in Kukareta, Yobe State, killing no fewer than 24 of the assailants.

The confrontation, which began shortly after midnight on Thursday, reportedly lasted for about three hours before the attackers were overwhelmed and forced to retreat.

Confirming the development, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, North-East Operation Hadin Kai, Sani Uba, said troops responded swiftly to the attempted incursion, preventing the insurgents from breaching the facility.

He explained that the troops executed what he described as a coordinated offensive-defensive operation that contained the situation and pushed the attackers into disarray.

“The attack was met with a swift and coordinated response by vigilant troops… effectively containing the assault and forcing the terrorists into a disorderly withdrawal,” he said.

According to him, the troops inflicted significant losses on the insurgents during the exchange, with at least 24 of them neutralised.

Weapons and equipment were also recovered from the scene, including 18 AK-47 rifles, three general-purpose machine guns, two PKT guns, three rocket-propelled grenade tubes, two mortar tubes, and several hand grenades.

Uba disclosed that two soldiers sustained injuries during the encounter but have since been stabilised. He also noted that an armoured vehicle was damaged in the course of the fighting.

He added that follow-up operations are already underway to track down fleeing insurgents and recover additional weapons.

The latest clash underscores ongoing military efforts to curb insurgency in the North-East, particularly in Yobe and neighbouring states where security forces continue to confront armed groups.