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 weapons.
The military said the terrorists launched the assault at about 11:25 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1, but encountered fierce resistance from troops of CIB XIX, who engaged them in an intense firefight and forced them to retreat after suffering heavy casualties.
According to the Theatre Command, troops recovered several items from the battlefield, including AK-47 rifles, loaded magazines, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tubes and other military equipment. Surveillance footage also confirmed that the fleeing terrorists evacuated a number of their dead and wounded from the scene.
The military noted that the attack targeted Mairari community, which was recently resettled with more than 950 households returning to the area. It described the assault as a failed attempt by the insurgents to intimidate residents and derail the ongoing resettlement programme. No civilian casualties were recorded during the attack.
Operation HADIN KAI, however, confirmed that two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were killed in the encounter, while some military equipment was damaged by RPG fire.
The Theatre Command expressed condolences to the families of the fallen personnel, describing them as gallant heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of the nation.
In a related operation, a reinforcement team advancing from Monguno detected and safely detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along the route before engaging the retreating terrorists. The military said the action further disrupted the insurgents’ withdrawal and inflicted additional casualties on them.
The successful defence of the forward operating base, the command added, reflects the operational readiness, resilience and combat effectiveness of troops under Operation HADIN KAI, who maintained full control of the base despite the attempted assault.
The Theatre Command commended the courage and professionalism of the troops, reaffirming that Operation HADIN KAI remains committed to sustaining offensive operations against terrorist groups and restoring lasting peace, security and stability across Nigeria’s North-East.
