Nigerian troops have dealt a heavy blow to ISWAP terrorists in Borno State following a fierce encounter on Saturday morning. Members of the Joint Task Force, North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), successfully neutralized dozens of insurgents after an attempted attack on a Forward Operating Base in Mandaragirau.
Reports indicate that the terrorists initially targeted the military base before being met with a superior and highly coordinated response. The soldiers engaged the assailants in a strategic offensive-defensive maneuver, supported by the Air Component of the operation. This combined land and air assault forced the terrorists into a chaotic retreat, during which they suffered significant casualties.
Following the initial engagement, troops moved in to clear the area and track the withdrawal routes of the fleeing insurgents. Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force, confirmed that at least 38 terrorists were killed. While eight bodies were found immediately at the scene, local intelligence reports have confirmed that over 30 more bodies, along with abandoned weapons, were scattered along the Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis leading toward the Timbuktu Triangle.
The aftermath of the battle revealed the scale of the defeat, with blood trails and discarded gear marking the insurgents’ escape path. Reports gathered that the military recovered seven AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, four RPG bombs, and various types of ammunition. Fortunately, no lives were lost on the side of the Nigerian military, though one Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle was hit by RPG fire. The injured personnel were quickly stabilized and are in stable condition.
The news of the successful operation has sparked widespread celebration among local communities who have long been terrorized by the group. This latest victory underscores the military’s growing dominance in the region and its commitment to ensuring that insurgents no longer have the freedom to operate within the state.
