TROOPS OF OPERATION HADIN KAI DEFEAT TERRORISTS IN MULTIPLE ATTACKS ACROSS BORNO AND YOBE STATES
Dikwa, Borno State | 23 October 2025
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), with renewed vigour and determination, have successfully repelled multiple coordinated terrorist attacks across several locations within the Joint Operations Area in the early hours of 23 October 2025.
Between midnight and 0400 hours, terrorists launched simultaneous assaults on troops’ positions in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko, situated in Sector 1 (Borno State) and Sector 2 (Yobe State) respectively. In all instances, the gallant troops stood their ground, fought bravely, and decisively repelled the attackers, inflicting heavy casualties on the terrorists.
The coordinated ground response was strongly supported by air platforms from the Air Component Command of OPHK. Precision air strikes and real-time intelligence provided by Theatre Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets gave troops a strategic advantage, enabling them to engage the enemy with overwhelming and lethal force.
The combined ground and air counteroffensive resulted in the neutralisation of over fifty terrorists across all the affected locations. Troops also recovered a significant cache of weapons, including 38 AK-47 rifles, 7 PKT machine guns, 5 RPG tubes, 2 GPMGs, and several hand grenades, alongside thousands of rounds of assorted ammunition. Over seventy wounded terrorists are still being pursued by ground troops, supported by the Air Component, to ensure total clearance of the areas.
Intelligence sources further revealed that the terrorists who attacked Dikwa and Gajibo infiltrated from the Cameroon axis, while those who attacked Katarko emerged from the Timbuktu Triangle, a notorious terrorist enclave.
Although a few gallant soldiers sustained injuries during the engagements, all are reported to be in stable condition and receiving adequate medical attention. Some vehicles and buildings were also destroyed by fire resulting from armed drones and RPG rounds used by the terrorists, particularly in Mafa and Dikwa, where portions of the defences were momentarily breached before being reinforced.
The Military High Command has commended the troops for their gallantry, professionalism, and resilience. It reaffirmed the Nigerian military’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity and maintaining security in the North-East.
According to the statement, the recent successes reflect the positive impact of ongoing troop reinforcements and the deployment of critical combat enablers into the theatre, underscoring the military’s determination to bring the fight against terrorism to a decisive end.
