Nigerian troops kill Boko Haram fighter, foil levy collection in Yobe

Nigerian Army troops operating under Operation HADIN KAI have successfully thwarted a Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) extortion attempt in Yobe State. The operation resulted in the death of one terrorist and the recovery of significant weapons, ammunition, and logistical supplies.

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Acting on credible and actionable intelligence on the movement of two Volkswagen Golf vehicles and motorcycles conveying suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists to collect illegal levies from local communities, troops of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bukarti, in conjunction with 27 Task Force Brigade, swiftly deployed on an aggressive fighting patrol to the Paya Kafiya axis at about on 19 July 2026.

Acting on credible intelligence, troops from Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bukarti, in conjunction with the 27 Task Force Brigade, intercepted two Volkswagen Golf vehicles and motorcycles carrying suspected terrorists. These vehicles were reportedly en route to collect illegal levies from local communities, a key funding stream for the insurgents.

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The troops made contact with the terrorists and immediately engaged them with overwhelming and superior firepower.

During a swift engagement with overwhelming firepower, troops immobilized one of the vehicles and neutralized its driver. The remaining four terrorists fled into the bush with gunshot wounds. Subsequent exploitation operations on July 20 led to the recovery of the abandoned vehicle and a cache of items, including 25 rounds of belted PKT ammunition, one loaded AK-47 magazine, 15 empty PKT ammunition cases, assorted drugs, and mechanical tools.

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During the ensuing firefight, one of the Volkswagen Golf vehicles was successfully engaged and immobilised, while its driver was neutralised.

The military highlighted the operation's success in disrupting terrorist logistics and dismantling illicit revenue networks, underscoring the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations. Operation HADIN KAI vows to maintain pressure on terrorist groups through continued intelligence-driven operations in collaboration with other security agencies and the public until lasting peace is restored in the North-East.

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Unable to withstand the troops’ overwhelming combat superiority, four other terrorists abandoned the vehicle and fled into the surrounding bush with gunshot wounds.