Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI successfully repelled a coordinated assault by ISWAP terrorists on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Mandaragirau, Borno State, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
According to a statement by Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer for the Headquarters Joint Task Force, the insurgents launched an early morning “half-hearted” assault on the base. The military responded with a combined ground and air offensive that forced the terrorists into a disorganized retreat toward the Timbuktu Triangle.
Key Operational Outcomes
The encounter resulted in significant losses for the insurgent group, with no fatalities reported among the Nigerian troops.
- Insurgent Casualties: A total of 38 terrorists were neutralized. While 8 bodies were recovered at the immediate site of the engagement, human intelligence and tracking along the Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis confirmed an additional 30 bodies abandoned during the retreat.
- Equipment Recovered: * 7 AK-47 rifles
- 8 Magazines
- 4 Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) bombs
- Assorted ammunition and communication gear.
- Troop Status: No soldiers were killed. One Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle sustained damage from RPG fire, and injured personnel have been stabilized.
Strategic Context
The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI provided critical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) during the battle, allowing for precision strikes that decimated the fleeing columns.
This victory comes during a period of heightened activity in the North-East. Military analysts suggest that the “Timbuktu Triangle”—a notorious stronghold for ISWAP—is currently under intense pressure as troops continue exploitation operations to deny the terrorists freedom of movement.
The Military High Command has commended the gallantry of the units involved, noting that the scale of the insurgents’ defeat has sparked celebrations among local communities who have long been terrorized by the group.
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