ISWAP assault foiled as Operation HADIN KAI troops kill 38 fighters in Borno

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have thwarted a coordinated attack by ISWAP insurgents on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Mandaragirau, Sector 2 of Borno State, eliminating 38 attackers during the confrontation.

The development was confirmed in a statement issued by Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, Media Information Officer at the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), who said the incident took place in the early hours of Saturday.

He described the attackers’ operation as a “half-hearted” attempt to overrun the base.

Uba explained that troops mounted a swift coordinated offensive and defensive response, which forced the insurgents to retreat in disarray.

He added that the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI contributed air cover and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), supporting accurate targeting during the engagement.

According to him, pursuing troops continued to engage the fleeing insurgents along their withdrawal routes, resulting in additional losses.

“About 38 terrorists were neutralised, with eight bodies recovered within the immediate engagement area.

“Human intelligence from locals confirmed over 30 additional bodies and weapons abandoned along the Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis into the Timbuktu Triangle,” he said.

He also stated that observable blood trails and abandoned equipment validated reports of significant casualties among the attackers.

Recovered weapons included seven AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, four rocket-propelled grenade bombs, and assorted ammunition.

No troop fatalities were recorded, although an MRAP vehicle sustained damage after being struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. “The injured personnel have been stabilised,” he noted.

Uba added that the outcome of the operation led to jubilation among residents in surrounding communities, highlighting the continued effectiveness of military operations in limiting insurgent activity in the region.

He further disclosed that follow-up exploitation operations were ongoing along the Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis, while the Military High Command commended the troops and urged them to maintain their operational momentum.

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