By Joy Odor, Maiduguri
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) on Wednesday repelled a deadly ambush by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists at Kareto, Borno State, killing 13 insurgents and recovering a cache of weapons and explosives.
The incident occurred on 3 September 2025 when troops escorting humanitarian trucks along the Gubio–Damasak road ran into an ambush involving the detonation of two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) followed by heavy gunfire.
According to a statement by Lt. Col. Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of OPHK, the soldiers responded swiftly, taking defensive positions and unleashing overwhelming firepower that neutralized 13 terrorists on the spot, forcing the rest to flee in disarray.
During the subsequent clearance operation, troops recovered:
8 AK-47 rifles
10 magazines
Large quantities of 7.62mm ammunition
A camel bag
Several rolls of detonating cord wires
7 primed IEDs ready for deployment
One soldier was reported to have sustained minor injuries and is in stable condition.
Four MRAP tyres were damaged, while two escort trucks were engulfed in flames during the firefight.
Despite the encounter, the relief materials under escort were secured and successfully delivered to Damasak, underscoring the army’s dual mission of combatting insurgents while safeguarding humanitarian operations in the North-East.
The military confirmed that troops have intensified deliberate operations in the general area to deny terrorists freedom of movement and prevent further attacks on security forces or civilians.
