By Joy Odor
Reportcircle News
Nigerian troops under Operation HADIN KAI have disrupted a planned terrorist incursion from the rugged Mandara Mountains, dealing insurgents a costly setback in a precision operation that combined ground firepower, surveillance intelligence and decisive air strikes.
The confrontation unfolded in the early hours of Thursday, December 18, 2025, when military sensors and forward surveillance units detected insurgents advancing toward Bitta, a vulnerable corridor long targeted by terrorists seeking access to civilian communities.
Rather than rush into contact, troops executed a calculated response.
Military sources said the forces allowed the terrorists to advance deeper into a carefully chosen engagement zone, tightening the net before unleashing coordinated defensive fire that shattered the group’s formation.
The firefight ended with multiple insurgents neutralised, including a senior terrorist commander and his cameraman, a clear indication that the group intended to document the attack for propaganda purposes.
As surviving fighters attempted to retreat toward the mountainous terrain, the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI was activated, delivering precision strikes that further decimated fleeing elements and cut off escape routes.
Security analysts say the loss of a commander, combined with air interdiction, represents a significant operational disruption for insurgent cells operating along the Nigeria–Cameroon border axis.
Following the engagement, ground troops conducted an extensive exploitation of the battlefield, uncovering a cache of weapons, communications equipment and logistics believed to have been earmarked for future attacks.
Recovered items included:
AK-47 rifles and magazines fully loaded with ammunition
PKT machine guns and belts of linked PKT and GPMG rounds
Handheld radios and mobile phones, likely used for coordination
A camcorder, reinforcing evidence of planned propaganda operations
Motorcycles and bicycles used for mobility in difficult terrain
Troops also discovered blood trails and shallow graves, suggesting additional terrorist casualties inflicted during the ground battle and subsequent air strikes.
The Mandara Mountains have long served as a staging ground for insurgent movements due to their difficult terrain and proximity to international borders.
Military officials say sustained pressure from Operation HADIN KAI is steadily degrading the area’s value as a terrorist sanctuary.
“The intent is clear,” a senior security source said. “Deny them freedom of movement, deny them surprise, and deny them survival.”
Military authorities say troop morale remains high, with ongoing operations focused on preventing regrouping and ensuring civilian communities remain secure across the North-East.
Operation HADIN KAI, the Joint Task Force spearheading counterterrorism efforts in the region, reaffirmed its commitment to decisively defeating all terrorist elements and restoring long-term stability.
For communities around Bitta, Thursday’s operation delivered a critical message: the battle for territorial control is shifting and the cost of infiltration is rising sharply for insurgents.
