
Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Hadin Kai have repelled an attempted attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on a Forward Operating Base in Mandaragirau, Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attack occurred at about 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2026, when the insurgents launched a coordinated assault on the military position from two separate directions.
The troops, however, detected the advancing fighters through their early warning and surveillance systems before they could reach the base, allowing them to deploy combat teams to intercept the attackers.
READ ALSO: Faye-Sonko split creates new political test for Senegal
The Acting Military Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Muhammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to him, personnel of the 162 Amphibious Battalion, which has been conducting counter-insurgency operations around the Mandaragirau axis, swiftly responded to the attack.
Goni said one of the military combat teams was dispatched to intercept the insurgents along one of their routes of advance, resulting in a fierce exchange of gunfire.
The troops eventually overpowered the attackers and prevented them from reaching the military base.
He said a second group of ISWAP fighters attempted to bypass the ambush team and infiltrate the camp through another route, but the move was also thwarted by the soldiers.
The military spokesperson said the troops brought superior firepower to bear on the second group, forcing the insurgents to abandon their attempt and retreat from the area.
Following the engagement, the troops pursued the fleeing terrorists and conducted an exploitation of the area where the confrontation occurred, as well as the routes used during their withdrawal.
Several weapons and other items were subsequently recovered during the operation.
The recovered items included AK-47 rifles with loaded magazines, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, RPG bombs and chargers, as well as a camcorder and other equipment.
The latest operation highlights the continuing counter-insurgency efforts by troops deployed under Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State, particularly in areas that have remained vulnerable to attacks by terrorist groups.
The military has continued to rely on surveillance, early warning systems and rapid-response teams to prevent attacks on troops and civilian communities across the North-East.
The successful defence of the Mandaragirau base also prevented the attackers from gaining access to the military position and potentially inflicting casualties or seizing military equipment.

