TROOPS NEUTRALIZE 9 TERRORISTS, RECOVER ₦5 MILLION RANSOM MONEY IN BORNO STATE

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have neutralizing nine Boko Haram terrorists and recovering over ₦5 million in ransom money during separate encounters in Magumeri and Gajiram general areas of Borno State.

According to a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East (JTF-NE) Operation HADIN KAI, the operations were conducted on 10 October 2025, following credible intelligence on terrorist movements around Goni Dunari in Magumeri Local Government Area.

According to the statement, Troops of 109 Special Forces Battalion, Magumeri, acting on actionable intelligence, launched a fighting patrol after observing about 24 terrorists moving in two vehicles and attacking civilians. As troops advanced, the terrorists attempted to escape toward Damjiyakiri village, prompting a tactical pursuit spanning 92 kilometres.

After a four-hour engagement, troops made contact and neutralized five terrorists, while several others fled with gunshot wounds. Items recovered at the scene included:

One AK-47 rifle (Reg. No. 06798), Five magazines (two loaded, three empty), Thirty-one 7.62mm rounds, One Itel mobile phone and One dagger

The statement confirmed that no casualties or equipment losses were recorded by the Nigerian troops during the encounter.

In a related development, troops conducting clearance operations along the Gajiram–Bolori–Mile 40–Gajiganna axis engaged Boko Haram fighters near Zundur village, resulting in the neutralization of four more terrorists.

During the operation, troops rescued two kidnap victims, identified as Mr. Modu Kinnami (55) and Mr. Bukar (57), both residents of Guzamala Local Government Area. The soldiers also recovered a blue pickup vehicle (Reg. No. GUB 327 XA), two new Tecno button phones, 30 litres of petrol, and a total sum of ₦4,355,000 in cash.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the terrorists had demanded a ransom of ₦2 million and two mobile phones for the release of a victim’s brother. The troops’ swift response foiled the exchange and led to the recovery of the ransom funds, bringing the total recovered amount from both operations to ₦5,105,000.

Lieutenant Colonel Uba noted that further clearance and pursuit operations are ongoing across multiple fronts to maintain unrelenting pressure on the terrorists and deny them freedom of movement in the region.

He commended the troops for their gallantry, professionalism, and dedication to restoring peace and stability in the North East.