Nigerian Army Says 80 Militants Killed in a Major Anti-Terror Operation

The Nigerian army said it killed at least 80 militants during a pre-dawn attack on a base in Mallam Fatori, near the Niger border, at approximately 12:50 a.m. on Wednesday.

According to army spokesperson Sani Uba, troops had anticipated the assault and responded with combined ground fire and air support, repelling the attack.

Uba stated that the casualties included three “high-profile” militants and that a significant cache of weapons was recovered, including assault rifles, RPG launchers, machine guns, improvised explosive devices, ammunition, and components for armed drones. An earlier army statement had placed the militant death toll at over 60, before revising it upward to at least 80.

The attack reflects a notable shift in militant capabilities, with Uba confirming that the assault involved “multiple armed drones.” The integration of drone systems into insurgent operations indicates a growing level of sophistication among armed groups operating in northeastern Nigeria.

Four Nigerian soldiers were wounded in the engagement and evacuated for treatment, the army said. The base at Mallam Fatori sits in a strategic corridor near the Niger border, an area frequently targeted due to its proximity to cross-border militant networks.

The attack follows a series of suspected suicide bombings earlier in the week in Maiduguri, Borno’s capital, which killed at least 23 people and injured 108 others. No group claimed responsibility, but suspicion fell on Daesh affiliated terror groups in the region.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had pledged strong response to the terror attacks earlier in relation to the broader security situation.

The recent news from Maiduguri, Borno State, is profoundly upsetting. I mourn those who lost their lives, sympathise with the injured and stand in solidarity with the people of Borno during this challenging time.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu added that these acts of terror are the final desperate and frantic attempts by criminals and terrorist elements “trying to instil and spread fear,” and pledged to continue to intensify efforts “against all criminal elements, wherever they may be.”

Despite tactical successes, the broader security environment remains strained. Analysts note that Nigeria’s military is stretched across multiple fronts, including insurgency operations, banditry, and communal conflicts across the north.