Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI have repelled a large-scale attack by suspected ISWAP terrorists targeting military formations in Yobe State, killing dozens of insurgents during a fierce overnight battle.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday, May 8, 2026, when heavily armed fighters launched coordinated assaults from multiple directions against the Headquarters of the 27 Brigade in Buni Gari and a nearby military checkpoint.
According to a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for Operation HADIN KAI, the terrorists began the assault around 2:00 a.m. under the cover of darkness, attempting to overwhelm troops through simultaneous offensives from different flanks.
The military said the attackers first advanced from the western flank before reinforcing the assault from the southern axis along Ganinga Junction and later from the south-western direction in what was described as an attempt to encircle the troops.
However, soldiers reportedly held their positions throughout the operation, responding with sustained firepower and coordinated defensive tactics that disrupted the assault and forced the insurgents into retreat.
The statement said troops employed indirect fire operations and offensive-defensive manoeuvres that gradually weakened the attackers across all fronts, preventing any breach of the military camp.
Military authorities said no fewer than 50 terrorists were killed during the engagement, while several weapons and ammunition were recovered from fleeing insurgents.
The military also confirmed the deaths of two soldiers during the confrontation, while other personnel sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.
According to the operation’s account, some insurgents attempted to evacuate their dead and wounded during the retreat, with blood trails reportedly seen along escape routes leading away from the area.
Follow-up exploitation operations reportedly led to the recovery of 10 bodies within the immediate vicinity of the attack, while intelligence reports indicated that additional corpses were scattered across surrounding bushes and withdrawal paths near Gashua, Azare, and Kamuya.
The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI was also said to have played a significant role during the encounter by providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support that enabled real-time tracking of terrorist movements.
The military stated that coordinated air strikes were subsequently launched on identified terrorist positions and retreating fighters, resulting in additional casualties among the fleeing insurgents.
Recovered items from the scene included AK-47 rifles, General Purpose Machine Guns, Rocket-Propelled Grenade tubes and bombs, ammunition, loaded magazines, bandoliers, and improvised explosive device canisters.
The military described the volume of weapons recovered as evidence of the scale of the planned assault and said ongoing operations were being carried out alongside volunteer forces to track fleeing insurgents and prevent regrouping.
Some military equipment, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and gun trucks, reportedly sustained minor damage during the exchange of fire.
The statement described the slain soldiers as having paid the supreme sacrifice in defence of the country and praised personnel involved in the operation for maintaining operational control under intense pressure.
Operation HADIN KAI maintained that the failed assault reflected increasing desperation among terrorist groups facing sustained military offensives across the North-East region and reiterated its commitment to denying insurgents freedom of movement within the theatre of operations.
