Sunday, January 18, 2026 - Operatives of the Nigerian Army have successfully foiled an attack after terrorists launched a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) at troop-carrying vehicles and the CCTV control room at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Azir in Borno State.
Disclosing this to newsmen via a statement, Lieutenant SA
Atokolo who serves as the Acting Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force
(North East) Operation Hadin Kai, said in the early hours of 16 January 2026,
the terrorists attempted to overrun a patrol base at Sabon Gari in Madagali LGA
of Adamawa State under Sector 4 OPHK. Alert troops swiftly engaged the
attackers, supported by reinforcements from Gulak and the Battalion Quick
Reaction Force.
“The
terrorists were successfully repelled without any casualties to their own
troops and equipment, forcing them to abandon the attack. The general area was
subsequently cleared and scanned for Improvised Explosive Devices and booby
traps to ensure civilian and troop safety.”
The military state that in a related development on the same
day, terrorists launched a large-scale, multi-directional attack on Forward
Operating Base (FOB) Azir in Borno State.
“The
attackers initially attempted to breach part of the defensive perimeter but
were met with overwhelming and sustained firepower from gallant troops with
support from the Air Component and other Nigerian Army aerial platforms. After
a prolonged firefight lasting over an hour, the terrorists were decisively
overpowered and forced to withdraw.”
The statement further disclosed that during the engagement,
terrorists’ Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) fire affected Troop Carrying
Vehicles and the CCTV control room which were partially gutted by fire. Despite
this, troops maintained firm control of the situation
“Several
terrorist weapons and ammunition, including a 60mm mortar tube, mortar bombs,
locally fabricated explosives, heavy machine gun rounds and hundreds of rounds
of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, were recovered from the terrorists.
Crucially,
this engagement did not end at the FOB. Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance
and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms immediately tracked the fleeing terrorists,
enabling follow-up operations along identified withdrawal routes by the Air
Component of OPHK.
The
precision strikes by the Nigerian Air Force platforms resulted in the
neutralisation of additional scores of the terrorists, dealing a severe blow to
the group’s fighting strength and morale. Evidence from the exploitation
confirmed that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties,” the statement
concluded
Atokolo expressed that the sacrifices of personnel
underscore the overall commitment of troops in securing lives, stressing that
the troops of OPHK remain resolute and unwavering in their mandate to deny
terrorists freedom of action, dismantle their networks and protect the
integrity of the North East region
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