Troops kill Boko Haram suicide bombers, foil attack in Borno

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised three suicide bombers and their escorts along the Guduf–Pulka axis in Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno State, the Nigerian Army has confirmed.

The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force Northeast, Lt Col Sani Uba, disclosed on Thursday that the suicide bombers were dispatched from the Mandara Mountains by the Ali Ngulde-led faction of Boko Haram, also known as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad.

“Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully neutralised three terrorist suicide bombers following a deliberate, intelligence-driven operation along the Guduf–Pulka axis in Gwoza LGA,” the statement read.

Lt Col Uba explained that the operation, carried out through covert intelligence efforts in collaboration with local volunteer forces, tracked and stopped the suicide bombers before they could carry out attacks on civilians.

During the encounter, troops recovered suicide vests and other improvised explosive device (IED) materials, and inflicted heavy casualties on the bombers’ escorts.

“The surviving elements fled into the Mandara Mountains under pressure from sustained troop action. In the course of exploitation, four AK-47 rifles abandoned by the fleeing terrorists were recovered, while two motorcycles used by the terrorists were destroyed,” Lt Col Uba added.

He further stated that Operation Hadin Kai has intensified efforts to detect, track, and neutralise suicide bombers and other terrorist elements using human intelligence, communication intercepts, and other intelligence-gathering capabilities.

This follows recent operations where troops intercepted materials intended for IED manufacture and arrested a suspected suicide bomber, identified as Abubakar Mustapha, in Bama Local Government Area. The suspect was reportedly found in possession of primed IED components, suggesting imminent intent to carry out an attack.

However, the Borno State Police Command issued a conflicting statement, claiming that the suspect was arrested by police and that the items found in his possession were not IEDs.