ISWAP attack Borno repelled as troops kill 38 terrorists and recover weapons in coordinated military response

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, have repelled a coordinated attack by suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province on a Forward Operating Base in Mandaragirau, Borno State, killing 38 terrorists in a decisive operation.

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The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Saturday by the Media Information Officer of the task force, Sani Uba, who said troops responded with a well-coordinated ambush and a deliberate offensive-defensive strategy.

According to the statement, the attackers were forced into a disorderly retreat as ground troops engaged them, while the Air Component provided close air support and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to enhance precision strikes.

The ISWAP attack Borno incident saw further casualties inflicted on fleeing insurgents during follow-up operations along their withdrawal routes, particularly across the Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis leading into the Timbuktu Triangle.

Military sources said eight bodies were recovered within the immediate area of engagement, while human intelligence from local communities indicated that more than 30 additional terrorists were killed, with blood trails and abandoned equipment confirming heavy losses.

Troops also recovered seven AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, four rocket-propelled grenade bombs, and assorted ammunition from the scene.

Despite the intensity of the encounter, no fatalities were recorded among the troops, although one Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle was struck by rocket fire, leaving some personnel injured but stabilised.

The military described the outcome as a powerful demonstration of its sustained dominance in the region, noting that the scale of losses suffered by the insurgents had sparked jubilation among local communities.

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Further clearance and exploitation operations are ongoing to recover additional weapons and consolidate gains, as security forces intensify efforts to deny insurgents freedom of movement across the North-East.