By Helen Udo,Abuja -NIGERIA.
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) successfully repelled a coordinated attack by ISWAP in the early hours of 28 March 2026 at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mandaragirau in Sector 2.
The force launched a multi-front but poorly executed assault aimed at breaching the defensive perimeter of the location.OPHK troops responded with a well-synchronised offensive-defensive manoeuvre, effectively bringing superior firepower to bear on the attackers.
In a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba,
Media Information Officer
Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East)
Operation HADIN KAI said that,
the engagement was reinforced by the Air Component, which deli media Information Officer vered close air support and provided real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) for precision targeting.
Overwhelmed by the coordinated response, the terrorists were forced into a disorganised withdrawal, abandoning equipment and casualties across multiple axes.
Exploitation operations conducted along the withdrawal routes resulted in the neutralisation of approximately 38 terrorists, with 8 corpses recovered within the immediate combat zone.
Further intelligence from local sources confirmed additional enemy fatalities exceeding 30 along the Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis extending into the Timbuktu Triangle.
Troops recovered significant combat enablers, including 7 AK-47 rifles, 8 magazines, 4 RPG bombs, and assorted ammunition, while no fatalities were recorded on own side; one MRAP sustained damage from RPG fire with wounded personnel stabilised.
The decisive victory has boosted local morale, with jubilation reported among communities, as exploitation operations continue to consolidate gains and deny terrorists freedom of manoeuvre in the area.
