Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have successfully repelled multiple coordinated terrorist attacks across several locations within the Joint Operations Area in the early hours of October 23, 2025. The assaults, which took place between midnight and 4 a.m., targeted military positions in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko, areas situated within Sector 1 of Borno State and Sector 2 of Yobe State.

According to military sources, the troops fought gallantly and professionally, standing their ground and inflicting heavy casualties on the terrorists. Supported by air platforms from the Air Component Command of OPHK, precision airstrikes and real-time intelligence from surveillance assets provided decisive battlefield advantages. These combined efforts led to the neutralisation of over fifty terrorists and the recovery of a large cache of weapons, including 38 AK47 rifles, 7 PKT machine guns, 5 RPG tubes, 2 GPMGs, and several hand grenades, along with thousands of assorted ammunition rounds. Over seventy wounded fighters are reportedly being pursued by ground troops in close coordination with air assets.

Intelligence reports indicate that the attackers who struck Dikwa and Gajibo advanced from the Cameroon axis, while those who attacked Katarko came from the Timbuktu Triangle, a known terrorist stronghold. A few soldiers sustained injuries during the confrontation and are receiving medical treatment, while some buildings and vehicles were damaged by drone and RPG fire, particularly in Mafa and Dikwa.

The Military High Command has commended the courage, resilience, and renewed vigour of the troops in the theatre, reaffirming the Nigerian Armed Forces’ unwavering commitment to defending the nation’s territorial integrity. The statement further noted that recent reinforcements, coupled with enhanced combat capabilities, have significantly strengthened ongoing counterterrorism operations in the North East.