In a decisive midnight counter-offensive, the Nigerian Army has dealt a crushing blow to the Islamic State West Africa Province, neutralising 16 fighters and rescuing 11 hostages in the volatile Borno State.

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai have executed a text-book military operation, decimating a cell of ISWAP terrorists who dared to assault a military installation. The encounter, which took place in the drakness of the early morning, marks a significant victory in the decade-long insurgency that has ravaged the Lake Chad region.

The Battle of Auno

The confrontation began when ISWAP fighters launched a failed attack on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Auno on February 5. Repelled by the superior firepower of the Nigerian troops, the terrorists retreated, unaware that they were being tracked. Capitalizing on intelligence and surveillance, the military launched a devastating follow-up operation along the Komala axis in Konduga Local Government Area.

Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer for Operation Hadin Kai, detailed the engagement. "The troops engaged the retreating terrorists with overwhelming force, pursuing them to the Gidan Kaji axis. The firefight was intense, but our soldiers demonstrated exceptional tactical discipline," Uba reported. By the time the guns fell silent, 16 terrorists lay dead, while scores of others fled into the bush with severe gunshot wounds.

Freedom for the Captives

Beyond the body count, the operation's true success lay in the rescue of civilians. Eleven victims, who had been held in captivity under harrowing conditions, were liberated during the raid. Among them were Mallam Idris Adamu and Mallam Muhammadu Safiyanu, who have since been reunited with their families in Buratai.

• The Haul: The troops recovered a significant cache of weaponry and logistics, including over 20 bicycles used by the insurgents for silent movement, ammunition, and medical supplies.
• Strategic Impact: This victory disrupts ISWAP's supply lines and morale in the sector, forcing them further into the fringes of the Sambisa Forest.

The Nigerian military's aggressive posture in recent months appears to be yielding results. By taking the fight to the enemy rather than waiting for attacks, Operation Hadin Kai is slowly reclaiming the ungoverned spaces of the North East. However, the war is far from over. As the rescued victims recount their ordeals, the reality of the humanitarian crisis remains a stark reminder of the work ahead.