July 2 (THEWILL) — Two soldiers and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were killed in action after troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, repelled a coordinated night attack by suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on a military base in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attack targeted the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mairari at about 11:25 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. However, troops of CIB XIX mounted a fierce resistance, forcing the terrorists to retreat after inflicting heavy casualties on the insurgents and recovering a cache of weapons.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the terrorists launched a determined assault on the base but were met with overwhelming firepower from the troops, who maintained control of the location throughout the encounter.
The military said several insurgents were killed during the exchange, while others fled with gunshot wounds. Surveillance footage obtained after the operation reportedly confirmed that the fleeing terrorists evacuated a number of their dead and wounded comrades from the battlefield.
Weapons and equipment recovered from the attackers included AK-47 rifles, loaded magazines, Rocket Propelled Gun (RPG) tubes, and other combat items abandoned during the failed assault.
Operation HADIN KAI said the attack was a desperate attempt by ISWAP to undermine the ongoing resettlement of displaced residents in Mairari, a community that was recently reopened with more than 950 households returning under government rehabilitation efforts.
Despite the attack, the military said the terrorists failed to achieve their objective, stressing that no civilian casualties were recorded during the incident and that normalcy was maintained in the community.
The Theatre Command, however, confirmed that two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force paid the supreme price while defending the base.
It also disclosed that some military equipment sustained damage after being struck by Rocket Propelled Gun fire during the battle.
The command expressed condolences to the families of the fallen personnel, describing them as gallant heroes whose sacrifice would not be forgotten.
In a related development, a reinforcement team deployed from Monguno detected and safely detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along the route by the retreating terrorists.
The reinforcement troops subsequently engaged the fleeing insurgents, further disrupting their withdrawal and inflicting additional casualties on them.
The military said the successful defence of the Mairari base underscores the operational readiness, resilience, and combat effectiveness of troops of Operation HADIN KAI, who continue to sustain offensive operations against terrorist groups across the North-East.
Commending the courage and professionalism of the troops, the Theatre Command reaffirmed its commitment to defeating terrorism and restoring lasting peace, security, and stability across the region.
“The troops maintained full control of the base despite the terrorists’ desperate attempt to overrun the location. Operation HADIN KAI remains steadfast in its resolve to deny terrorists freedom of action and ensure lasting peace in the North-East,” the statement said.
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