Courageous Troops Repel ISWAP in Borno; Three Security Personnel Lost

A recent midnight assault by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Mairari, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, was successfully thwarted by Nigerian troops, though at the cost of three security personnel lives. The Acting Military Information Officer for the North East Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Muhammed Goni, confirmed this development in a statement released on Thursday.

According to Captain Goni, a fierce encounter unfolded on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, around 11:25 PM, when ISWAP terrorists launched an attack on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) manned by CIB XIX troops in Mairari. The troops demonstrated exceptional gallantry, engaging the attackers in a sustained firefight that ultimately forced the insurgents to retreat in disarray. This robust defensive action resulted in significant casualties among the terrorists and the destruction of their equipment.

Among the items recovered from the fleeing terrorists were AK-47 rifles, multiple magazines loaded with ammunition, and rocket-propelled gun tubes. Surveillance footage later corroborated the evacuation of numerous deceased and wounded terrorists from the engagement site.

Captain Goni highlighted that the Mairari community had only recently experienced resettlement, with over 950 households returning to the area. He described the ISWAP attack as a desperate attempt to sow fear among the returning residents and disrupt the ongoing reintegration efforts. However, this objective was not achieved, as no civilian casualties were reported within the community during the attack.

Despite the operational success, the encounter was not without its sacrifices. Regrettably, two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) made the ultimate sacrifice during the intense confrontation. Additionally, some military equipment sustained damage from rocket-propelled grenade fire.

The theatre command expressed profound sorrow over the loss of the fallen heroes and extended heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones. In a related operational update, Captain Goni disclosed that a reinforcement team dispatched from Monguno detected and safely detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along the terrorists’ escape route. The team subsequently engaged the fleeing insurgents, inflicting further casualties upon them.

Captain Goni emphasized that the successful repulsion of the attack underscores the high level of operational readiness, resilience, and combat effectiveness of the troops under Operation Hadin Kai. He affirmed that despite the terrorists' desperate attempts to overrun the location, the troops maintained full control of the base and continue to dominate the operational environment through sustained offensive operations. The theatre command lauded the courage, resilience, and fighting spirit displayed by the troops, assuring the public of Operation Hadin Kai’s unwavering commitment to eradicating terrorism and restoring enduring peace, security, and stability across Nigeria’s North East region.

In other developments, the Yobe State Secretary to the State Government confirmed that no local government area in Yobe remains under terrorist control. Separately, the Federal Government reported that over 1,700 terror suspects have been convicted since 2017, while Benue State authorities have dismantled more than 20 illegal checkpoints along its highways.