The Nigerian Army said its troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have decisively thwarted an early-morning attempt by terrorists operating from the Mandara Mountains to infiltrate Bitta, neutralising several insurgents.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, in a statement said the incident occurred in the early hours of 18 December 2025, when troops, supported by advanced surveillance systems, detected the movement of terrorists advancing towards the area.
The statement added that troops further neutralized several insurgents, including a key terrorist commander and his cameraman. As the surviving terrorists attempted to withdraw, follow-on precision strikes were conducted by the Air Component of OPHK, further decimating the retreating elements and disrupting their escape routes.
Troops subsequently conducted a thorough exploitation of the area, leading to the recovery of significant terrorist weapons, equipment, and logistics. Items recovered included a camcorder, AK-47 rifles, bandoliers, handheld radios, 11 AK-47 magazines loaded with rounds, seven mobile phones, PKT machine guns, several belts of PKT and GPMG-linked ammunition, as well as motorcycles and bicycles.
Further exploitation revealed multiple blood trails and shallow graves, indicative of additional casualties sustained by the terrorists during the ground engagement and subsequent air strikes.
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI remain resolute in their commitment to decisively defeat all terrorist elements and restore lasting peace and stability across the North-East region.
