Nigerian troops push deep into Sambisa Forest,  kill 5 Boko Haram terrorists

In a continued effort to weaken terrorist networks in Nigeria’s Northeast, troops under Operation Hadin Kai have eliminated five Boko Haram insurgents during a clearance operation in the Ladin Buttu area of Sambisa Forest.

According to a report by counter-insurgency analyst Zagazola Makama on Sunday, the operation targeted Ladin Buttu—a key logistics and transit point for terrorists, particularly valued for its access to water. The area has long served as a strategic refuge for insurgents operating around the forest’s edges.

During the mission, military sources told Makama that troops encountered the terrorists and engaged in a heavy gunfight. Five fighters were killed, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

Troops recovered three AK-47 rifles, five fully loaded magazines, and additional military-grade equipment from the scene.

This latest operation is part of an intensified military strategy to disrupt the remaining strongholds of Boko Haram and ISWAP. The push follows a directive from the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who recently visited the theatre of operations and ordered increased ground assaults and aerial reconnaissance across key areas including Sambisa, the Timbuktu Triangle, and the Lake Chad region.