- Safiu Kehinde
Two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Joint Taskforce (CJTF) have been killed in a foiled attack on a military base by the Islamic States West African Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.
Troops of the CIB XIX at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mairari in Guzamala Local Government Area of the state were reported to have come under attack by ISWAP insurgents on Wednesday.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by Mohammed Goni, the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, acting spokesperson, the insurgents stormed the base around 11:25pm.
The troops engaged them in fierce battle, repelling the ISWAP terrorists attack with several members of the sect reportedly neutralised and theur equipment destroyed.
Unfortunately, the troops recorded fatalities as two soldiers and one CJTF member were confirmed dead dueing the attack.
“On 1 July 2026, at about 2325 hours, the terrorists launched an attack on the base. The troops responded with exceptional gallantry, engaging the attackers in a fierce firefight and forcing them to withdraw in confusion after inflicting heavy casualties on the terrorists and destroying their equipment.
“Items recovered include AK 47 rifles, magazines loaded with ammunition, Rocket Propelled Gun tubes among others.
“Surveillance footage further confirmed the evacuation of several dead and wounded terrorists from the battlefield.
“Regrettably, two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) paid the supreme price during the intense encounter.
“Additionally, few equipments were damaged by Rocket Propelled Gun fire during the encounter.
“The Theatre Command mourns these gallant heroes and extends its heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones.” Goni wrote.
The armt spokespersom further disclosed that Mairari community had only recently been resettled, with over 950 households returning to the area.
He described the attack as a desperate attempt by the terrorists to instill fear among the residents and disrupt the ongoing resettlement process.
However, their objective was, according to Goni, thwarted as no civilian casualties were recorded in the community during the attack.
In a related development, a reinforcement team from Monguno successfully detected and safely detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) emplaced along the route before engaging the fleeing terrorists.
The swift intervention further disrupted the insurgents’ withdrawal and inflicted additional casualties on them.
The successful repulsion of the attack, Goni said, underscores the high level of operational readiness, resilience, and combat effectiveness of troops of Operation HADIN KAI.
“Despite the terrorists’ desperate attempt to overrun the location, the troops maintained full control of the base and continue to dominate the operational environment through sustained offensive operations.
“The Theatre Command commends the courage, resilience, and fighting spirit of the troops for successfully defeating the terrorists and denying them any operational success.
“Operation HADIN KAI remains steadfast in its commitment to defeating terrorism and restoring lasting peace, security, and stability across the North East.” He added.