Terrorist Commander Killed as Troops Thwart Attack on Mandara Mountains

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have killed a key terrorist commander and several fighters after foiling an early-morning infiltration attempt from the Mandara Mountains into Bitta, dealing what the military described as a major blow to terrorist operations in the area.

The failed incursion occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, 18 December 2025, when troops, supported by advanced surveillance systems, detected the movement of terrorists advancing from the Mandara Mountains towards Bitta, according to a statement signed by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba.

Uba said the troops exercised tactical restraint, allowing the terrorists to move into an effective engagement range before launching a coordinated defensive fire that overwhelmed the attackers.

“The engagement resulted in the neutralisation of several insurgents, including a key terrorist commander and his cameraman,” the statement said.

As the surviving terrorists attempted to withdraw, the Air Component of OPHK carried out follow-on precision strikes, further decimating the fleeing elements and disrupting their escape routes, the military said.

Following the clash, troops conducted a detailed exploitation of the area, recovering a cache of weapons, equipment and logistics belonging to the terrorists. Items recovered included a camcorder, AK-47 rifles, bandoliers, handheld radios, 11 AK-47 magazines loaded with ammunition, seven mobile phones, PKT machine guns, belts of PKT and GPMG linked ammunition, as well as motorcycles and bicycles.

According to the statement, further exploitation revealed multiple blood trails and shallow graves, suggesting that additional terrorists were killed or seriously wounded during the ground engagement and subsequent air strikes.

Uba said the operation had significantly degraded the terrorists’ operational capability and denied them freedom of action within the area.

“Troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remain high as ongoing operations continue to ensure the safety and security of communities within the area of responsibility,” he said.

He added that 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.

Operation HADIN KAI is the military’s counterterrorism campaign in the North-East, targeting remnants of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operating within the region.