KEY POINTS
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Nigerian troops killed Boko Haram commander Ibn Khalid and 17 other terrorists in Borno and Adamawa States.
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Military recovered weapons, ammunition, and a terrorist camcorder; injured militants fled through blood-marked escape routes.
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Monguno remains under military and civil control, while surrounding communities await full restoration.
Troops of the Nigerian military have successfully foiled a midnight assault by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists on Monguno town and Bitta community, both located in the volatile Lake Chad region of Borno State.
The attempted infiltration, which occurred around 2:30 a.m., led to the death of a senior Boko Haram commander and the group’s designated cameraman during a fierce gun battle with Nigerian soldiers.
The fallen commander, identified as Ibn Khalid, was a notorious senior Quiad commander who had coordinated several past attacks in the region. His death marks a significant setback for the terror network operating across northeastern Nigeria.
“Our troops engaged the terrorists and successfully repelled the attack with superior firepower,” said Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Northeast Joint Taskforce.
Operation also resulted in the elimination of 17 other fighters across multiple locations
General Abdulsalam disclosed that the additional 17 terrorists were neutralized in separate coordinated operations within the vast Sambisa Forest, particularly in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State and the Kaga axis of Borno. He noted that several others escaped with gunshot wounds, and signs of blood trails were visible along their retreat paths.
Military sources confirmed the recovery of crucial items from the militants, including two AK-47 rifle magazines, a cache of 7.26mm special ammunition, one PKT machine gun belt, a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) bomb, and a video camcorder believed to contain propaganda footage.
Monguno, which serves as the headquarters of Northern Borno and the base for Sector 3 of Operation Hadin Kai as well as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), has experienced relative calm in recent months. Civil authorities have resumed governance, and residents have slowly returned to rebuild their lives.
“We are intensifying efforts to ensure that all communities along the Lake Chad axis are liberated, stabilized, and restored,” Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam emphasized.
Despite these military successes, many of the surrounding Lake Chad villages remain deserted. The lack of infrastructure, combined with the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), continues to hinder resettlement efforts.
The Nigerian Air Force has also sustained aerial offensives in the region. Recent coordinated air strikes have reportedly decimated several terrorist hideouts in Borno, complementing ground operations.
Security analysts view this latest military success as a positive sign of improving counterinsurgency efforts. However, they caution that more consistent actions, regional cooperation, and long-term development are essential to permanently uproot extremist threats in the Lake Chad Basin.
