By Our Reporter
Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have uncovered a mass grave containing the remains of about 20 terrorists killed during military operations in the Timbuktu Triangle area of Borno State.
The discovery was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lt. Col. Sani Uba. He said the mass grave was further evidence of the heavy casualties being suffered by terrorist groups as a result of sustained military offensives in the region.
According to the statement, the terrorists were killed during encounters with troops and later buried by their fleeing collaborators.
“The discovery exposes the scale of terrorist casualties and further discredits the propaganda narratives of these groups,” Uba said.
He added that troops have successfully cleared and dominated key terrorist strongholds within the Timbuktu Triangle, including Tergejeri, Chiralia, and the Ajigin/Abirma areas. During the operations, soldiers made contact with fleeing terrorists and engaged them, leading to the neutralisation of several insurgents.
Uba disclosed that while consolidating positions near Chilaria, troops encountered 11 Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs). One was successfully neutralised, while another breached the defensive perimeter and damaged some logistics platforms.
He said that during the incident, some soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force lost their lives, while others sustained injuries. The wounded were promptly evacuated to the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital by Nigerian Army Aviation helicopters, with air cover provided by Nigerian Air Force platforms to ensure safe evacuation and continued engagement of fleeing terrorists.
In a related development, the spokesman of Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba, said troops in Sector 2 neutralised two terrorists in Kebbi State and rescued 62 abducted victims from Munhaye Forest in Zamfara State.
Osoba explained that the Zamfara operation, carried out in collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilantes, targeted a hideout linked to a notorious bandit leader. The operation led to the successful rescue of the hostages, who are currently in safe custody, with efforts ongoing to reunite them with their families.
He said the operations underscored the determination of the military and its partners to dismantle terrorist and bandit networks and restore security across affected regions.