The Nigerian military announced Thursday that its troops killed at least 50 Boko Haram fighters during intense clashes in the country’s northeast, marking a major counterterrorism success in the volatile region.
According to military spokesman Lt. Col. Sani Uba, the attacks occurred early Thursday when Boko Haram militants launched coordinated assaults on military bases in Dikwa, Mafa, and Gajibo in Borno State, as well as Katarko in neighboring Yobe State.
Troops reportedly repelled the assaults “with overwhelming and lethal force,” killing dozens of militants and recovering significant weaponry, including 38 AK-47 rifles, seven PKT machine guns, five RPG tubes, two GPMGs, hand grenades, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Uba credited the military’s swift response to “enhanced battlefield awareness” and intelligence provided by surveillance systems. He confirmed that several soldiers sustained injuries but were in stable condition.
Boko Haram, active across Nigeria’s northeast and neighboring countries, has waged a brutal insurgency since 2009, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions. Despite recent military successes, parts of Borno State remain prone to sporadic attacks.