Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, have repelled coordinated attacks by suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters in Pulka and Mandaragirau communities of Borno State.
The attacks occurred late Saturday when insurgents attempted to overrun military positions in the two locations, according to a statement issued Monday by the Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lt. Col. Sani Uba.
The military said terrorists advancing from the Sambisa Forest axis launched a fierce assault on troops of Sector 1 in Pulka.
Soldiers engaged them in what was described as an intense firefight and successfully reversed the attack.
Although a section of the defensive perimeter was briefly breached, leading to the destruction of some combat equipment and accommodation facilities, reinforcement by troops of 26 Brigade forced the insurgents to retreat toward the Sambisa axis.
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“Credible intelligence indicates that the terrorists suffered severe casualties, including a senior commander identified as Abou Aisha who sustained a critical gunshot injury to the neck leading to his death, alongside significant losses of weapons and equipment,” the statement read.
The military said there were no casualties among troops during the Pulka engagement.
In Mandaragirau, troops of Sector 2 reportedly came under a coordinated, multi-pronged attack by ISWAP fighters mounted on gun trucks and motorcycles.
The statement said troops had tactically positioned combat teams in anticipation of such assaults and repelled the attackers after a fierce exchange of gunfire.
While the defence of the location was not breached, the military acknowledged that some soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force were killed.
Others injured were evacuated by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI and Nigerian Army aviation platforms for medical treatment.
“Their sacrifice embodies the highest traditions of service, courage, and commitment to the defence of Nigeria,” the statement added.
The military said follow-up operations along the Kimba axis revealed blood trails, shallow graves and abandoned items.
Eyewitness accounts suggested several injured insurgents were evacuated from the battlefield.
The High Command commended the troops for professionalism and resilience, describing the failed attacks as a sign of increasing pressure on terrorist groups operating in the North-East.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and restoring peace and stability in the region.
