By Harriet Tornguvan
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI have successfully foiled a coordinated terrorist attack on Kukareta in the early hours of Thursday, inflicting heavy losses on the assailants and recovering a cache of weapons.
The attack, which began shortly after midnight and lasted until about 3:00 a.m., was met with a swift and coordinated response by troops under Sector 2, who engaged the insurgents in a fierce battle. Military sources said the troops executed a well-planned offensive-defensive operation that forced the attackers into a disorganised retreat.
In a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the troops were said to have neutralised 24 terrorists during the encounter, while ongoing exploitation of the battlefield continues to yield significant recoveries.
Items recovered include 18 AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), two PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns, three Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tubes, two mortar tubes, four hand grenades, 18 AK-47 magazines, and large quantities of belted 7.62mm ammunition for PKT systems.
The military also reported that two soldiers sustained injuries during the engagement but have since been stabilised. Additionally, one reinforcing armoured tank was damaged, with all its tyres blown out in the course of the battle.
Further clearance and exploitation operations are ongoing, with troops combing withdrawal routes where blood trails and abandoned medical supplies indicate additional enemy casualties.
The military described the operation as a testament to the resilience, combat readiness, and firepower of troops in the theatre, noting that sustained offensive actions would continue to deny terrorists freedom of movement and ultimately dismantle their operational capabilities.
Operation HADIN KAI has intensified efforts in recent weeks as part of a broader strategy to consolidate gains and bring an end to insurgency in the North East.
