The Nigerian Army has said troops of Operation Hadin Kai killed more than 25 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during a coordinated attack on troops in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The terrorists reportedly launched a multi-directional assault on troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion from four different flanks.

However, the troops resisted the attack with superior firepower, tactical manoeuvres and effective battlefield coordination, with support from the Air Component.

According to Mohammed Goni, acting military information officer at the headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North-East), preliminary assessment indicated that more than 25 terrorists were neutralised, while 14 bodies had been recovered as of the time of the statement.

The troops also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition during exploitation of the area, including six AK-47 rifles.

The military said further operations were ongoing to recover additional weapons, track the fleeing terrorists and prevent them from regrouping.

However, the Army confirmed that some soldiers were killed during the encounter. Goni described the slain personnel as gallant soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, while expressing condolences to their families and commending their courage and dedication to the nation.