Troops Destroy ISWAP Hideout, Recover Three AK-47 Rifles in Mallam Fatori Clearance Operation

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of the 68 Battalion under Sector 3 of Operation HADIN KAI have destroyed a Boko Haram/ISWAP hideout and recovered three AK-47 rifles during a clearance operation in the Mallam Fatori axis of Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted at about 5:00 a.m. on Aug. 7 as part of follow-up actions after the failed terrorist attack on the battalion’s defensive location on July 29.

The sources said the troops tracked the withdrawal route used by the terrorists after the earlier attack, leading them to a concealed hideout at Kaniram East.

On reaching the location, the troops closed in on the camp using stealth before launching a coordinated assault with overwhelming firepower.

During the engagement, one terrorist was neutralised, while two others escaped with gunshot wounds into the surrounding bush.

A subsequent exploitation of the camp led to the recovery of three AK-47 rifles, three magazines, 39 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one Tecno mobile phone, one Niger SIM card, one MP3 player and a 100 CFA recharge card.

After clearing the area, the troops destroyed the terrorists’ camp and set it ablaze to deny the insurgents further use of the location before returning safely to base.

Military sources said the recovered communication devices and other materials are expected to provide valuable intelligence for ongoing operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks operating around the Lake Chad region.

The operation is part of sustained offensive efforts by Operation HADIN KAI to track fleeing insurgents, destroy their enclaves and prevent them from regrouping following recent military pressure across the North-East.