Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have repelled an attack by suspected ISWAP fighters on a military base in Gonori, Borno State. In a statement yesterday, Sani Uba, spokesperson of the joint task force (northeast), said the attack happened late Saturday night when the terrorists approached the 120 task force battalion from the Mandunari area.
He said the troops detected the insurgents early and launched an operation against them before they could enter the camp, killing several insurgents during a joint air and ground operation. According to the army, fighter aircraft supporting the troops later carried out air strikes on the fleeing attackers, leading to heavy casualties among the terrorists.
The military said no part of the camp was taken over and no equipment was lost during the attack. After the operation, troops recovered weapons and ammunition from the scene, including machine guns and AK-47 rifles. The army added that some soldiers were injured during the encounter but were receiving treatment and in stable condition.
The army further said troops were carrying out operations in the area to track down fleeing insurgents. “The latest failed attack reinforces the unrelenting operational dominance of OPHK and the futility of terrorist aggression against well-fortified and battle-ready troops across the theatre,” the statement reads.
In a separate incident, troops of the 212 battalion foiled an attempted attack by suspected ISWAP/JAS fighters on a forward operating base in Gajigana, Magumeri LGA of Borno State. Security sources said the attack occurred around 1:45 am on Friday when the insurgents attempted to overrun the troops’ position.
The sources said soldiers deployed on ambush duties engaged the attackers immediately after making contact, forcing them to retreat. Following the confrontation, the troops carried out follow-up exploitation operations in the surrounding area to track the fleeing insurgents, but no further contact was established.
Military authorities said calm has since been restored in the area, while troops remain on heightened alert against possible renewed attacks. Bandits and insurgents have recurrently targeted military bases since 2026. TheCable reports that since the start of the year, there have been at least 13 attacks, with seven of them foiled.
