Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The silence of the early morning hours at Forward Operating Base Mandaragirau in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State was shattered at about 2 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2026, when a large contingent of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists launched a simultaneous assault on the military location from two fronts. But the attackers, who had planned to overrun the base, met their match in the battle-hardened troops of the 162 Amphibious Battalion, who not only repelled the assault but also neutralised many of the terrorists and recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition.
The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, confirmed the decisive victory in a press statement issued on Saturday by the Acting Media Information Officer, Captain Mohammed Goni. According to the military, the terrorists launched their attack in the early hours of August 15, but the troops, relying on emplaced early warning and surveillance systems, detected the advancing terrorists and promptly dispatched a combat team to interdict them along one of the axes of advance.
A heavy exchange of fire ensued as the troops made contact with the attackers. The combat team decisively defeated the terrorists on that front, while a second group of terrorists, who attempted to bypass the ambush team and infiltrate the camp, were equally met with superior firepower and successfully defeated. The coordinated and aggressive response of the troops forced the insurgents to withdraw in confusion, after which the troops immediately launched a hot pursuit and thoroughly exploited the contact area as well as their withdrawal routes.
In a clear demonstration of tactical proficiency and combat dominance, the troops neutralised several terrorists and recovered a substantial quantity of equipment, including AK-47 rifles with loaded magazines, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher with bombs and chargers, a camcorder video camera, and several other combat enablers. Subsequent footage obtained from the surveillance systems further showed the terrorists dragging several bodies of their cohorts killed towards the Timbuktu Triangle.
Notably, the military confirmed that no single casualty was recorded on the side of the troops. The successful defeat of this multi-pronged attack highlights the high state of readiness, aggressive posture, and operational effectiveness of Operation HADIN KAI troops, with the additional impetus from the military high command.
The Theatre Command commended the leadership, courage, and professionalism of troops of the 162 Amphibious Battalion for their exceptional bravery and tactical excellence in decisively defeating the terrorists' assault. Operation HADIN KAI, according to Captain Goni, remains resolute in its determination to dominate the battlespace, deny terrorists freedom of action, and restore lasting peace and security across the North East.
The foiled attack at Mandaragirau is the latest in a series of successful counter-insurgency operations in Borno State, where troops have continued to degrade the operational capabilities of terrorist groups. In a separate development earlier in the month, troops of the 25 Military Intelligence Regiment arrested a 51-year-old suspected informant at the Damboa IDP camp, who allegedly specialised in moving women from the camp into the bush to meet with ISWAP terrorists. The military has also intensified air and ground operations across the North-East, with coordinated airstrikes and ground assaults targeting terrorist enclaves and logistics networks.
The recovery of a camcorder video camera from the terrorists is particularly significant, as it mirrors an earlier operation in July 2026 when troops killed an ISWAP cameraman and recovered a Sony camcorder containing operational footage that revealed the involvement of foreign terrorist facilitators in a failed attack on Cross Kauwa. The latest recovery suggests that ISWAP continues to document its operations for propaganda purposes, and the capture of such equipment provides valuable intelligence for the military.
The successful defence of Forward Operating Base Mandaragirau and the neutralisation of many ISWAP terrorists represent a significant blow to the terrorist group's operational capabilities in Borno State. As Operation HADIN KAI continues its offensive, the message to terrorists is clear: the Nigerian military remains vigilant, prepared, and determined to protect the nation's territorial integrity and secure lasting peace in the North-East.
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