Troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have killed four terrorists and foiled attacks by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Borno State.

The attacks were foiled at the Gajiram FOB in Nganzai Local Council and the Mairari FOB in Guzamala Local Council of the state.

OPHK Media Information Officer, Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the operations also led to the surrender of two Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) terrorists, including a Qaid (commander), with weapons. He said four terrorists’ corpses were recovered during subsequent exploitation, alongside AK-47 rifles, magazines, ammunition, RPG bombs and a camcorder, among other items.

Goni said troops who sustained injuries during the engagements were stabilised and airlifted to hospital for treatment. He said the terrorists advancing towards FOB Gajiram on September 17 were detected early by troops supported by Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets.

“Troops immediately adopted appropriate defensive measures, while the Air Component OPHK provided close air support. Faced with the coordinated response, the terrorists withdrew from the vicinity of the location into adjoining areas,” he said.

According to him, ISWAP terrorists subsequently attacked FOB Mairari later that night but were met with stiff resistance from troops, supported by close air support from the Air Component. “The attack was successfully contained, inflicting casualties on the terrorists, and maintained the integrity of the FOB,” he said.

Goni added that the Commander, Sector 3 OPHK, subsequently conducted a post-engagement assessment of the affected locations to evaluate the situation, commend the troops and coordinate follow-on actions.