Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have recovered the bodies of an additional five Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, alongside AK-47 rifles and other items, during ongoing exploitation operations.

This followed the recent failed terrorist attack on troops in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State on 29 August 2026.

In a statement on Thursday, the Acting Military Information Officer of the Operation, Mohammed Goni, said the recovery was made on 3 September 2026, when troops conducting exploitation operations North-East of Kukawa towards the Jemmu–Alagarno axis discovered the decomposing bodies of the terrorists believed to have sustained fatal injuries from air strikes of the Nigerian Air Force platforms in Air Component – OPHK during the earlier engagement and subsequent withdrawal.

“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 had apparently abandoned their dead and wounded colleagues while fleeing under pressure from troops and supporting air operations,” the statement read in part.

“During a further search of the area, troops also recovered one solar panel, a camouflage shuttle bag, a prayer mat, an empty ammunition link and a raincoat, among other items.

“The bodies of the terrorists were subsequently buried in situ, while troops continued to exploit the general area before returning safely to base.”

Goni said the latest discovery brings to nine, the number of additional terrorist bodies so far recovered during exploitation operations following the failed attack on Kukawa, in addition to other equipment and personal effects earlier recovered along the terrorists’ withdrawal route.

He said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai 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 within the North East zone.

The Joint Task Force (North East) commended the troops for their “resilience and fighting spirit and reassures the public that operations will continue to consolidate recent gains and create an increasingly secure environment for socio-economic activities across the region.” (Channels)