… As CDS warns of local complicity, urges community ownership of anti-insurgency war
MAIDUGURI/ABUJA — Nigerian troops have neutralised more than 80 terrorists in a fierce overnight battle in Mallam Fatori, Borno State, even as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, warned that local complicity is undermining counter-insurgency efforts and urged residents of Borno and Yobe to take ownership of the war against Boko Haram and ISWAP.
The successful military operation, carried out by troops of Operation HADIN KAI under the Joint Task Force (North East), repelled a coordinated five-pronged attack launched in the early hours of Wednesday on the 68 Battalion location in Sector 3.
According to an operational report made available to journalists, the insurgents advanced in large numbers on foot and deployed armed drones in a bid to breach defensive positions, particularly along the Bravo Company frontage from the Duguri axis.
However, troops, acting on prior intelligence, mounted a well-coordinated offensive-defensive response, engaging the attackers with superior firepower and tactical manoeuvres that overwhelmed them and forced a disorderly retreat.
Air support from the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, alongside allied Nigerien air assets, delivered precision strikes on fleeing insurgents, further decimating their ranks.
A subsequent sweep of the battlefield led to the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition, including dozens of AK-47 rifles, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, improvised explosive devices, and components of armed drones.
Despite the scale and intensity of the encounter, only four soldiers were wounded in action and have since been stabilised, while battle damage assessment is ongoing.
Among those killed were three senior terrorist commanders identified as Malam Abdulrahman Gobara, Malam Ba Yuram, and Abou Ayyuba, alongside several other fighters.
The military described the outcome as a major setback for insurgent operations in the axis, noting that the elimination of key commanders would significantly disrupt their command structure.
It reaffirmed that troops remain firmly in control of Mallam Fatori and surrounding areas, dismissing claims of setbacks as misinformation, and urged residents to remain vigilant and rely only on verified information as operations continue across the North-East.
Meanwhile, speaking in Maiduguri after a four-hour closed-door strategic meeting with top military commanders, General Oluyede stressed that the fight against insurgency cannot be won without the active cooperation of local communities.
The meeting, attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu; the Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar; and other senior officers, was part of renewed efforts to counter rising attacks and bombings in the region.
Oluyede said the military high command relocated to Borno on the directive of President Bola Tinubu to reassess and strengthen operational strategies.
“We are here to review our strategies in the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in the North-East,” he said, noting that recent attacks during the Ramadan period were consistent with insurgents’ tactics.
While insisting that the military remains on top of the situation, the CDS expressed concern over intelligence indicating that many perpetrators of violence originate from within affected communities.
“Most of the people perpetrating these heinous acts are from these states. They are our brothers, sisters and cousins. We know them,” he said.
He cited a recent incident in Kukawa, where troops conducting a cordon-and-search operation after an attack discovered two wounded terrorists hidden within the community, suggesting local collaboration.
“Therefore, the people in these two states, Borno and Yobe, must take ownership in this war,” Oluyede declared.
On the evolving tactics of insurgents, including the use of armed drones and other advanced technologies—as witnessed in the Mallam Fatori attack, the CDS assured that the military is fully aware and responding effectively.
He added that Nigerian forces are also adopting advanced capabilities, including the deployment of German drones, to counter emerging threats.
Oluyede emphasised that while military operations have continued to record significant gains, including the latest neutralisation of over 80 terrorists, lasting peace in the region will depend on stronger collaboration between security forces and local populations.
He urged residents to support ongoing operations, remain vigilant, and provide credible information that would aid the military in sustaining momentum against insurgent groups.
