Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, have recovered the bodies of five additional Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, alongside an AK-47 rifle and other items, during exploitation operations in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
In a statement, Acting Military Information Officer Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI Maiduguri Captain Mohammed Goni said the recovery, made on Thursday, September 3, 2026, followed continued clearance and exploitation operations launched after a failed terrorist attack on troops in Kukawa on August 29.
According to the Joint Task Force, troops operating northeast of Kukawa towards the Jemmu–Alagarno axis discovered the decomposing bodies of five terrorists believed to have sustained fatal injuries from Nigerian Air Force air strikes during the earlier engagement.
The latest discovery provides further evidence of the heavy casualties suffered by the terrorists during the failed attack and their subsequent withdrawal under pressure from ground troops and supporting air operations.
The military said the terrorists apparently abandoned their dead and wounded colleagues as they fled the area.
During a further search of the location, troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, a solar panel, camouflage shuttle bag, prayer mat, empty ammunition link and raincoat, among other items.
The recovered bodies were buried in situ, while troops continued exploiting the area before safely returning to base.
The latest recovery brings to nine the number of terrorist bodies discovered during exploitation operations following the failed attack on Kukawa, in addition to equipment and personal effects previously recovered along the terrorists’ withdrawal route.
Operation HADIN KAI said troops remained vigilant and determined to sustain pressure on Boko Haram and ISWAP elements, deny them freedom of action and prevent them from regrouping or threatening communities across the North-East.
The Joint Task Force commended the troops for their resilience and fighting spirit, assuring residents that military operations would continue to consolidate recent gains and create a more secure environment for socio-economic activities across the region.
