By: Zagazola Makama
In a decisive operation to dismantle terrorist strongholds, troops of the 21 Armored Brigade, Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Hadin Kai have uncovered a significant cache of arms, ammunition, and equipment hidden deep within Sambisa Forest, Borno State.
Acting on intelligence, the operation was executed in collaboration with the 199 Special Forces Battalion, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and Hybrid Forces. Their target: a suspected arms depot in the Ukuba general area, where insurgents were believed to have stashed weaponry to fuel their reign of terror.
However, upon arriving at the location at 1210hrs on March 1, the troops found that the terrorists had fled in disarray, leaving behind a trove of war materials. The abandoned arsenal paints a picture of desperation among the insurgents as security forces tighten their grip on the once-notorious forest hideout.
Weapons and Equipment Recovered:
One MOWAG armored vehicle engine
One unidentified heavy-duty block engine
Various engine components
One QJC W85 anti-aircraft gun
Three PKT machine guns
Two General-Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)
One M60 machine gun
Two RPG tubes
One QJC gun cradle
One unserviceable HK 21 rifle
One G3 rifle magazine
One fabricated 60mm mortar tube
Three Improvised Explosive Device (IED) cylinders
Military sources confirm that this operation is part of an aggressive counterinsurgency strategy aimed at eradicating the last remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters from their once-formidable strongholds. The discovery of these weapons underscores the army’s unwavering commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and ensuring lasting peace in the region.
With sustained operations like this, the days of insurgents hiding in Sambisa Forest are increasingly numbered.
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