By Harriet Tornguvan
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI have successfully repelled multiple coordinated attacks by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on key military formations in Borno State, recovering heavy arms and inflicting significant losses on the insurgents.
The military disclosed that the failed attacks targeted Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Mayanti, Gajigana and Gajiram between the late hours of February 28 and the early hours of March 1, 2026, as terrorists attempted to breach security positions across Sector 2 of the theatre of operations.
In a statement issued by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, troops demonstrated resilience and operational superiority by thwarting the assaults and maintaining full control of all locations.
According to the statement, terrorists launched a heavy attack on FOB Mayanti on February 28, deploying a large number of fighters and advanced weapons. Despite intense enemy fire, troops held their ground while reinforcements navigated ambushes and improvised explosive device (IED) threats to repel the attackers.
Following the encounter, exploitation operations led to the recovery of five terrorist corpses and a cache of weapons, including three PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns, two RPG-7 tubes, four AK-47 rifles, two FN rifles, three RPG bombs and large quantities of 7.62mm ammunition. Blood trails discovered at the scene indicated additional casualties among the fleeing terrorists. The military, however, confirmed that an officer lost his life during the fierce exchange.
In a separate incident at about 1:15 a.m. on March 1, terrorists armed with PKT guns, rocket propelled grenades and armed drones attacked FOB Gajiram but were decisively repelled by troops with close air support.
Three terrorist bodies were recovered along their withdrawal route, alongside four AK-47 rifles, five anti-tank bombs, three locally fabricated mortar bombs, an armed drone, six fully loaded 7.62mm NATO magazines, barbed wire cutters, specialised ammunition and poisoned arrows abandoned during the retreat. One wounded soldier was evacuated by a Nigerian Army Aviation helicopter for advanced medical treatment.
The statement further revealed that troops intensified offensive operations across Sector 2, engaging terrorists at Kayawa Village where insurgents fled, abandoning a tricycle, three motorcycles and five bicycles.
Troops also destroyed identified terrorist life-support structures and arrested two suspected ISWAP logistics suppliers who reportedly confessed to supporting the group. Drugs and medical supplies used to treat wounded fighters were also recovered.
Additionally, troops conducting an ambush around Bulturam Corner and Dadingel in Gujba Local Government Area neutralised two terrorists and recovered two AK-47 rifles, four magazines and a bicycle among other items.
Military authorities confirmed that all affected locations remain firmly under troop control, noting that the scale of weapons recovered and confirmed enemy casualties reflects the continued degradation of ISWAP’s combat capability under sustained military pressure.
Operation HADIN KAI reiterated its commitment to maintaining offensive momentum against terrorist elements in the North-East while ensuring the safety of communities within the theatre of operations.
