At least eight Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters were killed after troops of Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled a coordinated attack on a Forward Operating Base in Mandaragirau, Borno State.

The attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday, with insurgents advancing from multiple directions in an apparent bid to overrun the base.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama noted that the troops were already in position and ready to respond. A military source told Makama that soldiers engaged the attackers with superior firepower, forcing them to retreat.

“The troops demonstrated resilience and tactical superiority, effectively repelling the assault and immediately launching a counter-exploitation along the terrorists’ withdrawal route, inflicting further casualties on the fleeing insurgents,” the source said.

No Nigerian military personnel were reported killed during the encounter, although a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. Troops recovered weapons from the scene, including seven AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, four RPG bombs, and a cache of ammunition.

“Blood trails were observed along the withdrawal routes, indicating that several insurgents escaped with gunshot wounds,” the source added. Injured soldiers are currently receiving treatment at a military medical facility in Biu.

Further reports revealed more bodies of fleeing insurgents along escape routes toward the Timbuktu Triangle, a known hideout, with at least four additional bodies sighted. Abandoned weapons and bodies were also found in Garin Mallum and Garin Gajere, highlighting the heavy losses suffered by the attackers during the failed operation.

Military leadership has urged troops to sustain operational tempo, maintain control of the area, and consolidate gains in the ongoing fight against insurgency in Borno State.