In a major blow to the operational capabilities of the Boko Haram terrorist group, Nigerian Army troops have successfully ambushed a critical logistics convoy in the Lake Chad region, killing 21 insurgents.
The operation, carried out today, Sunday, December 21, 2025, by a combined force of the 7th Division and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), targeted a major crossing point used by the group to ferry supplies from Cameroon into the Sambisa Forest and Mandara Mountains.
Following actionable intelligence on the movement of a large group of terrorists, the troops laid a silent ambush along a known supply route in the Bama-Banki axis.
The insurgents, who were transporting food, fuel, and specialized medical supplies, were caught completely off guard. A fierce gun battle ensued, lasting approximately 45 minutes.
Purportedly, 21 Boko Haram fighters were confirmed dead at the scene, while several others escaped into the thick vegetation with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.
Preliminary reports from the Defense Headquarters (DHQ) indicate that no Nigerian soldier or CJTF member lost their life during this specific encounter.
The recovery of these items is expected to significantly degrade the group’s ability to sustain its fighters in the forest during the current harmattan season:
| Item Category | Quantity / Description |
| Firearms | 12 AK-47 Rifles, 1 GPMG, and 2 RPG tubes. |
| Ammunition | Over 1,500 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and local ammunition. |
| Vehicles | 3 Hilux trucks and 8 custom-built supply motorcycles. |
| Logistics | 40 bags of assorted grains, 20 jerrycans of PMS (petrol), and a cache of IED-making materials. |
| Communication | 5 high-frequency handheld radios and several encrypted satellite phones. |
The Theater Commander of Operation HADIN KAI commended the troops, noting that cutting off logistics is just as vital as direct combat. “The terrorists depend on these local supplies to survive the harsh terrain. By interdicting this convoy, we have denied them the fuel and food necessary for their planned Christmas and New Year offensives,” the commander stated.
This victory comes at a critical time as the military intensifies its “Operation Desert Sanity III” to clear the remnants of the ISWAP and Boko Haram factions from the Northeast.
