Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have defeated an attempted ISWAP attack on a military base in Borno State, neutralising several terrorists and recovering weapons and ammunition. The attack was carried out against troops of the 162 Amphibious Battalion at the Forward Operating Base, FOB, Mandaragirau in Biu Local Government Area.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, in Maiduguri. According to Goni, the incident occurred at about 2am on August 15, 2026, when the terrorists launched a coordinated assault on the military location from two directions.
He said troops detected the advancing attackers through early-warning and surveillance systems before deploying a combat team to intercept one of the advancing groups. The ensuing confrontation resulted in an exchange of fire, with the troops defeating the attackers along that axis.
A second group reportedly attempted to bypass the ambush and infiltrate the military camp. However, the troops also confronted and defeated the group with superior firepower. Goni said the coordinated response forced the terrorists to withdraw from the area, after which troops pursued them and searched the contact area and withdrawal routes.
According to the military, several terrorists were neutralised during the operation. Troops also recovered a cache of weapons and equipment, including AK-47 rifles with loaded magazines, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, RPG bombs and chargers. A camcorder video camera and other combat equipment were also recovered from the area.
The military said surveillance footage obtained after the operation showed terrorists dragging away the bodies of some of their colleagues killed during the encounter towards the Timbuktu Triangle. The development represents another reported success for troops operating under Operation HADIN KAI in the North-East.
The Joint Task Force said the successful response demonstrated the operational readiness and combat effectiveness of troops deployed in the theatre. It also attributed the troops’ performance to their preparedness and the additional support provided by the military high command.
Goni commended the officers and soldiers of the 162 Amphibious Battalion for what he described as exceptional courage, professionalism and tactical effectiveness. He said the Theatre Command remained committed to maintaining pressure on terrorist groups operating in the North-East.
Operation HADIN KAI, he added, would continue efforts to dominate the operational environment, restrict terrorists’ freedom of movement and action, and support the restoration of lasting peace and security across the region. The latest ISWAP attack in Borno highlights the continued security challenges confronting communities and military formations in the North-East, even as security forces maintain operations against terrorist groups.
