Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have recovered the bodies of five additional Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists alongside an AK-47 rifle and other items during ongoing exploitation operations following a failed terrorist attack on troops in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State on August 29, 2026.
The recovery was made on Thursday, September 3, when troops conducting exploitation operations northeast of Kukawa towards the Jemmu-Alagarno axis discovered the decomposing bodies of five terrorists believed to have sustained fatal injuries during earlier air strikes conducted by Nigerian Air Force platforms supporting the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI.
The discovery provides further evidence of the losses suffered by the terrorists during the failed attack and their subsequent withdrawal from the area. The terrorists reportedly abandoned dead and wounded members of their group while fleeing under pressure from ground troops and supporting air operations.
- READ ALSO: Troops Neutralise Terrorists In Borno
According to a statement issued by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, troops conducting a further search of the area recovered one solar panel, a camouflage shuttle bag, a prayer mat, empty ammunition links and a raincoat, among other items.
The recovered bodies were subsequently buried in situ, while troops continued exploiting the general area before returning safely to base.
The latest discovery brings to nine the number of additional terrorist bodies recovered during exploitation operations following the failed attack on Kukawa, in addition to other equipment and personal effects previously recovered along the terrorists’ withdrawal route.
Operation HADIN KAI troops remain vigilant and determined to sustain pressure on Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, deny them freedom of action and prevent them from regrouping or threatening communities across the North East.
The Joint Task Force North East commended the troops for their resilience and fighting spirit and reassured the public that operations would continue to consolidate recent gains and create an increasingly secure environment for socio-economic activities across the region.
