Odita Sunday 
Troops Repel Midnight Terrorist Attack in Kukareta, Kill 24, Recover Heavy Weapons
By Odita Sunday
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully repelled a coordinated terrorist attack on Kukareta community in the North-East, neutralising at least 24 insurgents and recovering a large cache of weapons during the encounter.
The development was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North East), Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, who said the attack occurred in the early hours of April 23, 2026.
According to him, the terrorists launched the assault shortly after midnight, but were met with a swift and well-coordinated response from troops under Sector 2, forcing them into a chaotic retreat after sustaining heavy losses.
Uba explained that the troops executed what he described as a “deliberate offensive-defensive action,” effectively containing the attack and denying the insurgents any operational advantage.
“In the course of the engagement, troops inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers, with 24 terrorists neutralised so far. The swift response and superior firepower ensured that the terrorists were forced into a disorderly withdrawal,” he said.
He further revealed that ongoing exploitation of the battlefield has led to the recovery of a significant cache of arms and ammunition, underscoring the scale of the failed attack.
Items recovered, he said, include 18 AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), two PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns, three Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) tubes, two mortar tubes, four hand grenades, 18 AK-47 magazines, as well as large quantities of belted 7.62mm ammunition.
The military spokesman added that while the troops recorded successes, two personnel sustained injuries during the encounter and have since been stabilised.
He also disclosed that one reinforcing armoured tank was damaged during the firefight, with all its tyres blown out, though no lives were lost.
“Exploitation operations are ongoing to recover additional bodies and equipment along the terrorists’ withdrawal routes, which are littered with blood trails and medical consumables,” Uba stated.
He stressed that the outcome of the operation demonstrates the resilience and combat readiness of troops in the theatre, noting that sustained offensive operations will continue across the joint operations area.
“This successful operation highlights the resilience, combat readiness and fire superiority of OPHK troops in denying terrorists freedom of action. Operations will continue with sustained offensive pressure to consolidate gains and decisively defeat all terrorist elements,” he added.
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