Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have repelled a coordinated assault by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on a military position in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, with the Nigerian Army reporting that more than 25 terrorists were neutralised.
According to the military, the attackers targeted troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion from four different directions in an apparent attempt to overwhelm the position. The soldiers responded with sustained ground operations, superior firepower and tactical manoeuvres.
The counter-offensive was supported by the Air Component, which helped the troops repel the assault and force surviving ISWAP fighters to withdraw from the area. The Army said a preliminary assessment indicated that more than 25 terrorists were neutralised, while 14 bodies were recovered from the battlefield.
Troops also recovered arms and ammunition during the exploitation of the area, including six AK-47 rifles, according to the military. Further operations were reportedly continuing to recover additional weapons, track fleeing fighters and prevent the attackers from regrouping.
The encounter, however, came at a cost to the Nigerian military. The Army confirmed that some soldiers were killed during the engagement, although it did not immediately provide a detailed figure for the military casualties.
The attack highlights the continuing security challenges confronting communities and military formations across northeastern Nigeria, particularly in the Lake Chad region, where ISWAP and other armed groups have maintained operational capabilities despite sustained counter-terrorism operations.
Operation HADIN KAI remains one of the Nigerian military’s principal formations conducting counter-insurgency operations in the North-East. The latest encounter also underscores the importance of coordinated ground and air operations in responding to large-scale attacks on military positions.
Nigerian troops under Operation HADIN KAI repel an ISWAP assault in Kukawa, Borno State, neutralising more than 25 terrorists and recovering weapons.