Troops Repel ISWAP Assaults in Borno, Recover Heavy Arms
Troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, successfully repelled coordinated attacks by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province fighters on forward operating bases in Mayanti, Gajigana and Gajiram between the night of February 28 and early hours of March 1, 2026.
Military authorities said the assaults were decisively foiled, with soldiers maintaining control of all installations despite intense fighting. The attackers, who used automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades and armed drones, suffered heavy losses. At the Mayanti base, security forces recovered five bodies of suspected terrorists and seized three PKT anti-aircraft guns, two RPG-7 tubes, four AK-47 rifles and large quantities of ammunition.
An officer was killed during the defence of the installation, while troops retrieved additional weapons including RPG bombs and FN rifles. Blood trails observed at the scene suggested that more attackers were wounded or killed as they withdrew.
In a separate engagement at Gajiram, troops repelled a drone-supported attack and recovered an armed drone, AK-47 rifles and anti-tank bombs. One wounded soldier was evacuated by a Nigerian Army aviation helicopter for medical treatment.
Further operations in surrounding areas yielded additional results. Soldiers engaged militants in Kayawa village and recovered motorcycles and other equipment after the attackers fled. Two suspected logistics suppliers were arrested and drugs allegedly used to treat wounded fighters were seized.
Military sources said ambush operations around Bulturam Corner and Dadingel in Gujba Local Government Area resulted in the neutralisation of two terrorists and the recovery of more weapons.
Officials described the operations as evidence of sustained pressure on militant networks and declining operational capacity of ISWAP fighters.
Operation Hadin Kai authorities affirmed that all locations remain under government control and that ongoing operations would continue to disrupt terrorist logistics and leadership structures.
