Troops of the 162 Amphibious Battalion, under the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, have repelled an attempted assault by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on the Forward Operating Base in Mandaragirau, Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.
The military said the insurgents launched a coordinated attack on the base from two directions at about 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
In a statement, the Acting Military Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North-East, Captain Mohammed Goni, said troops detected the approaching terrorists through surveillance and early-warning systems and immediately deployed a combat team to intercept one of the advancing groups.
According to him, the interception led to an intense exchange of fire, during which the troops successfully overwhelmed the attackers.
Goni said another group of terrorists attempted to evade the ambush and gain access to the military camp, but the troops confronted them with superior firepower and forced them to retreat.
He said the coordinated response by the soldiers compelled the insurgents to withdraw in disarray, prompting troops to launch an immediate pursuit and conduct operations along the attackers’ withdrawal routes.
Several terrorists were reportedly killed during the encounter, while troops recovered a cache of military equipment, including AK-47 rifles and loaded magazines, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher with bombs and chargers, a camcorder and other combat-related items.
The military further disclosed that surveillance footage later showed the attackers dragging away several bodies of their colleagues killed during the confrontation towards the Timbuktu Triangle.
Goni added that no Nigerian troops were killed or injured in the attack.
The Theatre Command praised the troops of the 162 Amphibious Battalion for their courage, professionalism and tactical effectiveness in repelling the multi-directional assault.
Operation Hadin Kai, he said, remains committed to maintaining control of the operational theatre, restricting terrorists’ freedom of movement and action, and working towards restoring sustainable peace and security across Nigeria’s North-East.
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