In a dramatic pre-dawn showdown, troops of the Nigerian Army, supported by the Nigerian Air Force under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), successfully thwarted a daring assault by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on a military base in New Marte, Borno State.
The surprise attack, which occurred around 1:35am on Tuesday, May 27, saw the insurgents launch a coordinated offensive on the 50 Task Force Battalion. But the Nigerian forces, fortified by timely reinforcements and superior firepower, stood their ground and delivered a punishing response.
According to military sources, the troops immediately engaged the terrorists in a fierce gunfight, while the air component of Operation Hadin Kai unleashed a barrage of precision airstrikes, decimating scores of the assailants and scattering the rest in disarray.
Despite the overwhelming success of the operation, the Nigerian Army confirmed the loss of two gallant soldiers who paid the ultimate price in defense of their country.
Renowned counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, revealed that troops from the 24 Task Force Brigade Garrison and the elite 134 Special Forces Battalion were swiftly deployed to bolster frontline defenses. Their intervention proved decisive in overwhelming the terrorists.
“The Air Force provided critical aerial reconnaissance and offensive support that was instrumental in neutralizing dozens of fleeing insurgents,” Zagazola noted.
The military has since regained full control of New Marte and launched a follow-up operation to pursue surviving terrorists and recover abandoned weapons and logistics.
While the terrorists suffered devastating losses, the Nigerian military also recorded minor equipment damage, including a gun truck and a tyre on a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle.
Authorities have promised to release additional details and imagery from the battleground in the coming hours.
This latest confrontation comes amid intensified military operations in the Lake Chad and northern Borno regions, where ISWAP and Boko Haram elements continue to seek a resurgence. However, with the Nigerian Armed Forces maintaining relentless pressure, the terrorists are finding fewer places to hide.
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