According to a military statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, the troops intercepted about 300 armed terrorists in the Kwanar Dutse Forest as they attempted a covert movement towards Kwatankoro Forest. Intelligence reports suggest the terrorists were either planning coordinated attacks on nearby communities or seeking refuge from intensified military operations in neighbouring Zamfara State.

The Nigerian Army engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle that lasted more than three hours. Following the ground engagement, the Nigerian Air Force carried out precision airstrikes targeting terrorist withdrawal routes, delivering heavy bombardments on confirmed enemy positions. Though the exact casualty figure remains unconfirmed, multiple blood trails were observed, suggesting significant losses among the terrorist ranks.

Tragically, seventeen soldiers were killed in the operation, and ten others sustained various degrees of injury. The wounded have been evacuated to military medical facilities and are currently in stable condition.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Oluwafemi Oluyede, has extended his condolences to the families of the fallen heroes. He also directed the medical corps to provide the best possible care to the wounded and ordered relevant army departments to support the families of the deceased soldiers.

“The Nigerian Army remains committed to securing all communities and protecting the lives and property of citizens across the nation,” the statement read. “We shall not mortgage the sanctity of our freedom and will continue to work with the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, other security agencies, and patriotic Nigerians to defeat terrorism and all forms of criminality.”

The Army has called on the public to remain vigilant and support ongoing operations by providing timely and actionable intelligence to security agencies.