Update: Troops recover more arms as terrorists suffer additional casualties near Bitta in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have recovered additional arms, ammunition and equipment following the early-morning encounter with terrorists from the Mandara Mountains during an attempted infiltration of Bitta community in Borno.
Sources said that the terrorists were detected on surveillance systems at about 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, after which troops tactically allowed them to advance into a killing range before unleashing coordinated defensive fire that neutralised several of the insurgents, including a key terrorist fighter and his cameraman.
The sources added that follow-on precision strikes by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai further decimated the retreating terrorists.
According to the sources , items recovered during exploitation of the area included a camcorder, AK-47 rifles, bandoliers, hand-held radios, 11 AK-47 magazines loaded with rounds, seven mobile phones, PKT machine guns, as well as several belts of PKT and GPMG-linked ammunition.
Motorcycles and bicycles used by the terrorists were also recovered.
The sources said troops, while exploiting the area, followed multiple blood trails and uncovered shallow graves, indicating additional casualties suffered by the terrorists beyond those initially confirmed.
