Troops of the Operation Hadin Kai have successfully repelled a series of coordinated terrorist attacks targeting military positions in parts of Borno State, killing several insurgent commanders and fighters after hours of intense overnight battles.
According to the Nigerian military, the attempted assaults occurred between about 10:30 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. across several frontline communities, including Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok. Insurgents launched coordinated attacks aimed at overrunning troop positions, but soldiers mounted strong resistance and maintained control of their bases despite the intensity of the engagements.
In a statement released by the military, the Media Information Officer of the operation, Sani Uba, said troops responded with swift tactical manoeuvres that forced the attackers into retreat. “Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI have once again successfully thwarted coordinated terrorist attempts to overrun troops’ locations in Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok,” he said.
He explained that soldiers held their defensive positions throughout the night while reinforcement units from different sectors executed flanking manoeuvres that disrupted the insurgents’ advance. “In a well-coordinated response, troops executed simultaneous flanking manoeuvres alongside reinforcement teams drawn from Sectors 1 and 2, decisively routing the attacking terrorists and forcing them into disorganised withdrawals,” Uba said.
According to the military, several high-ranking insurgent leaders, including key field commanders known as “Amirs,” were killed during the clashes, along with a number of other fighters. Some parts of the defensive perimeter were briefly breached during the fighting, but troops quickly launched counterattacks and regained full control of the affected areas.
Air support also played a crucial role in repelling the attackers. The military said the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai carried out multiple precision strikes overnight against fleeing insurgents and identified hostile positions, destroying targets and weakening the terrorists’ combat capability.
Ground forces have since launched follow-up operations across the affected locations to clear the area and recover weapons, equipment and the bodies of slain fighters. The military confirmed that despite damage to some structures during the gun battles, all targeted bases remain under the control of government forces.
However, the clashes came at a heavy cost for the Nigerian military. Uba confirmed that several soldiers were killed during the operation, including a senior officer who died while leading his troops during the battle. “Regrettably, a number of brave soldiers paid the supreme price in the line of duty, including a gallant Officer who fought courageously from the front while leading his troops against the attackers,” he said.
The military said the failed assault highlights what it described as growing desperation among insurgent groups operating in the North-East as security forces intensify operations across the conflict-hit region. Authorities maintain that Operation Hadin Kai remains firmly in control of the operational theatre as counter-insurgency efforts continue in the area.
