Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have killed two suspected ISWAP spies while attempting to cross into Nigeria from Cameroon through the border area in Borno state.
The operation was reportedly carried out by troops of the 152 battalion in Banki in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
Security sources told Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, that the suspects were intercepted on June 21 after they crossed from the Cameroonian side of the border fence into Nigerian territory.
The sources said intelligence available to troops suggested that the suspects were linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and were “believed to have entered Nigeria either to gather information on troop deployments and military activities or to procure supplies for terrorist elements operating in the region”.
The suspects were reportedly sighted jumping over the border fence, prompting troops to lay an ambush and engage them. Both men were killed during the encounter.
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Following the operation, troops conducted a search of the surrounding area and intensified surveillance along the border corridor to prevent further infiltration by suspected terrorist collaborators.
The development is part of ongoing efforts by Operation Hadin Kai to strengthen border security and disrupt support networks used by insurgent groups in the north-east.
Sources said troops remain on high alert across the theatre of operations as part of measures to deny terrorists freedom of movement and access to logistics.
They added that while the overall security situation in the region remains relatively calm, military authorities continue to treat the environment as unpredictable due to the persistent threat posed by insurgent groups.
Operation Hadin Kai has sustained offensive operations and border patrols across the north-east in a bid to prevent cross-border movements by terrorists and weaken their operational capabilities.
