Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, have repelled a coordinated night attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mairari in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, killing several insurgents and recovering arms and ammunition.
According to an official statement signed by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the terrorists launched the attack at about 11:25 p.m. on July 1, 2026.
The statement said troops of CIB XIX responded with exceptional gallantry, engaging the attackers in a fierce gun battle that forced the terrorists to retreat after suffering heavy casualties and abandoning equipment on the battlefield.
Items recovered after the encounter included AK-47 rifles, magazines loaded with ammunition, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tubes and other military equipment.
The Theatre Command added that surveillance footage confirmed that the fleeing terrorists evacuated several of their dead and wounded fighters from the battlefield.
The attack came barely weeks after the resettlement of the Mairari community, where more than 950 households had returned to rebuild their lives. The military said the assault was intended to instill fear among residents and disrupt the ongoing resettlement exercise but failed, as no civilian casualties were recorded during the incident.
The operation, however, claimed the lives of two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), who were killed during the intense exchange of fire. Some military equipment was also damaged by Rocket Propelled Grenade fire.
The Theatre Command paid tribute to the fallen personnel, describing them as gallant heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of the nation, while extending condolences to their families.
In a related development, a reinforcement team deployed from Monguno detected and safely detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along the route before engaging the fleeing terrorists, further disrupting their withdrawal and inflicting additional casualties.
The military said the successful defence of the Forward Operating Base underscores the operational readiness, resilience and combat effectiveness of troops of Operation HADIN KAI, who maintained full control of the location despite the terrorists’ attempt to overrun the base.
The Theatre Command commended the courage and professionalism of the troops for defeating the attackers and reaffirmed Operation HADIN KAI’s commitment to sustaining offensive operations aimed at defeating terrorism and restoring lasting peace, security and stability across the North-East.
