Operation Hadin Kai Troops Overcome Terror Ambush After Borno IED Incident

Soldiers operating under Operation Hadin Kai successfully thwarted a terrorist ambush following an improvised explosive device (IED) detonation on the Damboa–Kumala road in Borno State. The incident, which unfolded around 1:00 PM on Saturday, July 4, saw troops, aided by members of the civilian joint task force (CJTF), escorting a convoy of 63 civilian vehicles towards Kumala.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency news outlet focused on the Lake Chad region, citing security sources, the convoy encountered the IED along the crucial supply route connecting Damboa, Bulabulin, and Kumala. Shortly after the explosion, suspected terrorists launched an ambush approximately two kilometres from the blast site.

While the IED blast damaged the tyres of two Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, no casualties were reported among the military personnel or the civilians they were protecting. Troops promptly replaced the damaged tyres at the scene, completing their escort mission. They subsequently ensured the safe return of 71 civilian vehicles from Kumala back to Damboa.

Military sources quoted by Makama emphasized that this operation underscores Operation HADIN KAI's unwavering commitment to keeping vital supply routes open and guaranteeing the safe passage of civilians, despite the persistent terrorist threats plaguing Nigeria's North-East region.