Borno: Troops repel ISWAP attack, decimate insurgents in air-land assault

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, have repelled a late-night attack by ISWAP terrorists on the 120 Task Force Battalion, Gonori, under Sector 2 in Borno State, in what military authorities described as a decisive operational victory.

In a statement issued on Sunday, by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the troops successfully contained and defeated the attack despite what he described as minor breaches in an isolated section of the camp.

The attack reportedly occurred in the late hours of Saturday, 9 May 2026, and continued into the early hours of Sunday, 10 May 2026.


According to the statement, terrorists advancing from the Mandunari axis around midnight were detected early by an ambush team, prompting troops to launch a coordinated spoiling attack that drew them into a lethal engagement zone.

Military authorities said air assets from the Operation HADIN KAI Air Component, alongside the Nigerian Army Aviation, were immediately deployed and carried out a synchronized air-land assault that overwhelmed the retreating insurgents and ensured their total defeat.

Officials confirmed that no part of the military camp was breached and no equipment was lost during the engagement.

Following the operation, troops conducted exploitation of the general area, where extensive blood trails, body parts, and battle damage consistent with significant terrorist casualties were discovered.

Several bodies were also recovered within the vicinity, further indicating heavy losses on the part of the attackers.

Items recovered from the scene include one General Purpose Machine Gun, GPMG, two PKT machine guns, five AK-47 rifles, multiple belts of assorted ammunition, and other personal effects linked to the terrorists.

The statement added that wounded soldiers are stable and receiving medical attention, while follow-up exploitation operations are ongoing to consolidate gains and track fleeing insurgents.

Authorities described the operation as further evidence of the sustained combat effectiveness of troops in the theatre and the continued pressure on terrorist elements operating in the North East.