Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have successfully thwarted a coordinated attack by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State, dealing a major blow to the insurgents’ offensive capability. The assault, which occurred late Friday night, saw ISWAP militants attempt to breach a Forward Operating Base in Mairari, Guzamala Local Government Area, using two Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs) to force their way in.
Brave soldiers from Sector 3 of OPHK, backed by the Theatre Command Quick Reaction Group, the Nigeria Police Crack Team and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), quickly detected and destroyed the VBIEDs before they could reach their target. Confirmed footage and field reports show that several attackers were killed or seriously wounded, with surviving insurgents hurriedly evacuating their dead and injured as they retreated from the scene.
In a follow-up operation the next morning, troops uncovered multiple corpses and seized a significant cache of weapons, ammunition and equipment abandoned by the fleeing fighters. Recovered items included AK-47 rifles, magazines, ammunition belts, hand grenades, motorcycles, communication devices and combat gear, highlighting the planning and capacity of the foiled assault.
The theatre command confirmed that the robust defence prevented any breach of the base, and that there were no casualties recorded among the defending troops. Military sources say continued patrols and domination of the general area aim to prevent further terrorist activity and reassure local communities of a sustained security presence.
