By Nkechi Eze
Troops of the Operation Hadin Kai have successfully repelled a coordinated terrorist assault in Goniri, Yobe State, killing more than 20 insurgents during a fierce overnight battle that lasted from late Monday, March 9, into the early hours of Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
The troops, serving under Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force North East, came under heavy attack from suspected fighters of Islamic State West Africa Province who launched simultaneous offensives from multiple directions in what appeared to be an attempt to encircle the military position in Goniri.
According to a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, Sani Uba, the terrorists were first detected through surveillance assets advancing from Goniri village and the Ngamdu junction axis before the attack escalated.
Uba said the vigilant troops swiftly engaged the insurgents with superior firepower and coordinated tactical manoeuvres, effectively repelling the assault despite the intensity of the attack.
“Reinforcements were promptly mobilised while the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI provided timely and decisive close air support, further degrading the terrorists’ combat capability,” he stated.
During the fierce exchange of fire, the insurgents were overwhelmed and forced to retreat in disarray after suffering heavy casualties. More than 20 terrorists were neutralised in the operation, including a senior commander identified as Abu Yusu, described as the Munzir of Dursula.
Following the failed attack, troops conducted a sweep of the battlefield and recovered several bodies of the insurgents along with weapons and equipment abandoned during their retreat. Among the items recovered were multiple machine guns, AK-47 rifles, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), bombs and assorted ammunition of various calibres.
Further exploitation and clearance operations carried out by troops in the general area of Gwaigomari within the Timbuktu Triangle also led to the discovery of additional terrorist bodies during follow-up patrols conducted up to the early hours of Wednesday, March 11.
The statement added that troops who sustained injuries during the encounter were immediately evacuated for medical attention and are currently in stable condition.
Despite the attempted incursion, the military confirmed that the Goniri location remains firmly under the control of Operation HADIN KAI forces. Ground troops, supported by the air component, have since intensified aggressive follow-up operations in the surrounding areas.
Search and clearance operations are also ongoing in nearby communities where some wounded terrorists are believed to have fled.
The military high command commended the troops for their gallantry and resilience in the face of the coordinated assault, urging them to maintain the operational momentum as efforts continue to dismantle terrorist networks across the North-East.
Operation HADIN KAI reiterated its resolve to completely defeat terrorism and restore lasting peace and security to the region.
