Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, have successfully repelled coordinated terrorist assaults in Pulka and Mandaragirau, Borno State, demonstrating tactical discipline, operational superiority, and steadfast resolve.
According to a statement issued by Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI Lieut. Col. Sani Uba, the attacks occurred late on February 14, 2026, as terrorists attempted to overrun defensive positions in both locations. In Pulka, a large contingent of suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP militants advanced from the Sambisa Forest axis, engaging Sector 1 troops in intense firefights. Although part of the perimeter was briefly breached, swift reinforcements from 26 Brigade and decisive counter-fire forced the attackers to retreat in disarray. Credible intelligence indicates that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties, including a senior commander, Abou Aisha, who sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the neck. There were no casualties among the defending troops.
Meanwhile, in Mandaragirau, Sector 2 troops came under a multi-pronged assault by ISWAP terrorists using gun trucks and motorcycles. Anticipating such maneuvers, defensive combat teams engaged the attackers decisively, successfully repelling the offensive without any breach. However, several personnel of the Nigerian Army and Civilian Joint Task Force lost their lives, and a few soldiers sustained injuries, which were promptly evacuated via OPHK air and Nigerian Army Aviation assets.
Follow-up operations along the Kimba axis revealed blood trails, shallow graves, and abandoned enemy equipment, corroborating the scale of terrorist losses. Eyewitnesses confirmed the evacuation of multiple injured militants toward Kimba, highlighting the effectiveness of the Nigerian military response.
The Military High Command commended the troops’ bravery, professionalism, and fighting spirit, noting that the failed attacks underscore the growing desperation of terrorist groups under sustained operational pressure. Operation HADIN KAI remains committed to dismantling terrorist networks, safeguarding communities, and restoring peace and stability in the North East.
