The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the death of 22 soldiers during a clearance operation in the Timbuktu Triangle, a known stronghold of terrorists in Nigeria’s North-East region.
In a statement issued by the Directorate of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Edward Buba disclosed that the operation, which began on January 16, 2025, is part of a three-pronged offensive aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves in the area.
“Sadly, during the course of the operations, troops recorded 22 killed-in-action casualties, while several others sustained injuries,” the statement read.
Despite the losses, the military achieved significant success, neutralizing over 70 terrorists, including three high-ranking commanders: Talha, a terrorist special forces commander; Mallam Umar, an operations commander; and Abu Yazeed, a brigade commander.
The statement noted that the terrorists employed various tactics, including Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), suicide bombers, and explosive-laden vehicles, to resist the advancing troops. However, the military thwarted several attacks and shot down amateur drones deployed by the insurgents.
The DHQ described the operation as a critical effort to weaken the insurgents’ capabilities despite the challenges.
This comes amidst ongoing violence in the region, where the 15-year-long insurgency by groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced nearly two million people.
In July 2024, seven soldiers were killed when their vehicle struck a landmine in a village controlled by ISWAP, highlighting the persistent threats faced by security forces in the area.
