Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A large force of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters launched a coordinated assault on the Headquarters of 27 Brigade and the Buni Gari checkpoint in Yobe State in the early hours of Thursday, May 8, 2026. The attack occurred in Buni Gari, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, under the cover of darkness. The insurgents first attacked from the western flank before reinforcing from the southern axis through Ganinga Junction and later from the south-western flank in what appeared to be an effort to encircle the troops.
According to a statement by the Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the assault was launched at approximately 2 a.m. by a large number of terrorists from multiple axes. The troops met the attackers with devastating firepower, tactical brilliance, and resolute determination, holding their ground and inflicting catastrophic losses. The statement noted that troops employed indirect fires to attrit the enemy while executing an offensive-defensive battle that systematically degraded and dismantled the assault from all axes. The terrorists were met with such devastating resistance that they retreated in confusion, evacuating some of their killed and wounded as evidenced by trails of blood along their escape routes. At no point was any part of the camp breached, as the integrity of the location remained fully intact throughout the engagement.
The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai played a decisive role, providing Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance coverage that enabled real-time situational awareness and accurate target acquisition. Exploitation operations conducted after the encounter led to the recovery of a massive cache of weapons and ammunition, including eight AK-47 rifles, two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), two Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) tubes, five RPG bombs, three RPG chargers, two boxes of 7.62mm ammunition, two fully loaded magazines, nine bandoliers of 7.62mm ammunition, and three Improvised Explosive Device (IED) canisters.
The military confirmed that no fewer than 50 terrorists were neutralised during the operation, with several others escaping with injuries. Exploitation of the general area confirmed the recovery of 10 terrorist corpses within the immediate vicinity, while human intelligence reports indicated that over 20 additional bodies were scattered across bushes around Gashua, Azare, and Kamuya along the terrorists' withdrawal routes. In a synchronised air-land operation, precision air interdiction strikes were conducted on confirmed terrorist positions and fleeing elements, accounting for an additional 20 terrorists neutralised as aircraft pursued retreating insurgents along their escape corridors. Subsequent human intelligence confirmed scores of additional dead bodies along the withdrawal routes, further underscoring the magnitude of the defeat inflicted on the terrorists.
However, the encounter came at a cost. Two soldiers were killed during the engagement, while several others sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment. A number of military equipment, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and gun trucks, sustained minor damage during the battle. The military described the fallen soldiers as gallant personnel who paid the supreme price in defence of the country and added that troops remained battle-ready to sustain pressure on terrorist groups operating in the North East.
Troops and allied volunteer forces are currently conducting follow-up operations in the area to track fleeing terrorists and prevent regrouping. The attack on Buni Gari is part of a broader surge in violence. Within less than 48 hours, ISWAP fighters attempted to overrun four military formations across the North-east theatre of operations, beginning with an attack on the Forward Operating Base in Magumeri under Sector 3, which also resulted in the death of two soldiers, while scores of ISWAP fighters were killed. Boko Haram and ISWAP have stepped up attacks in recent months after a period of relative calm. Since 2019, the army has shut down smaller outposts and regrouped its forces into larger, heavily fortified bases known as "super camps," designed to better withstand attacks.
As of the time of this report, troops continue to dominate the area, maintaining a presence and conducting exploitation and clearance operations to prevent any resurgence of insurgent activity. The military has urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security forces as efforts to flush out remaining terrorist elements continue.
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