Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, have repelled a coordinated night attack by suspected 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.
The military disclosed in a statement on Thursday that the attack occurred at about 11:25 p.m. on July 1, 2026, when the terrorists attempted to overrun the military base.
According to the statement, troops of CIB XIX mounted a fierce resistance, engaging the attackers in an intense firefight that forced them to retreat after suffering heavy casualties.
Items recovered from the scene included AK-47 rifles, loaded magazines, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tubes and other military equipment. The military added that surveillance footage confirmed that the fleeing insurgents evacuated several of their dead and wounded from the battlefield.
The statement noted that the attack appeared aimed at disrupting the ongoing resettlement of Mairari community, where more than 950 households had recently returned after years of displacement. It, however, said the troops successfully thwarted the terrorists’ objective, with no civilian casualties recorded during the incident.
The military, however, confirmed that two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were killed during the encounter, while some military equipment was damaged by rocket-propelled grenade fire.
“The Theatre Command mourns these gallant heroes and extends its heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones,” the statement said.
In a related operation, a reinforcement team deployed from Monguno detected and safely detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along the route before engaging the retreating terrorists, further disrupting their withdrawal and inflicting additional casualties on them.
The military said the successful defence of the base demonstrated the operational readiness and combat effectiveness of Operation HADIN KAI troops, stressing that they retained full control of the location despite the attempted assault.
The Theatre Command commended the troops for their courage and resilience, reaffirming its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against terrorist groups and restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East.
