Troops recapture Borno community, kill terrorist commander, 19 others in Yobe attacks

By Kingsley Omonobi & Ndahi Marama

Maiduguri—Troops of the Nigerian Army, under the Joint Task Force North-East, ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, have recaptured Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State from Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, while also killing a senior terrorist commander and 19 others, during a separate attack in Yobe State.

The operations, carried out by troops in Borno and Yobe states, were confirmed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North-East Operation HADIN KAI, Lt. Col. Sani Uba.

According to the statement, troops successfully restored control of Ngoshe community after repelling terrorists who had earlier attacked and briefly taken over a military location in the area.

“The terrorists had earlier attacked the location occupied by troops of Operation HADIN KAI on March 3, 2026. However, reinforcement teams drawn from Forward Operating Base Pulka and the 151 Battalion were immediately mobilised to reinforce the position,” Uba said.

He explained that during the reinforcement operation, the leading Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which damaged two tyres.

Despite the setback, troops continued their advance to the location.

“A special reinforcement team led by the Commander, 26 Task Force Brigade, Gwoza, under Sector 1 OPHK, Brigadier General Nasirudeen Abdullahi, subsequently arrived at the scene, coordinated a counter-attack and successfully repelled the terrorists, forcing them to withdraw from the area,” he added.

Troops recovered three AK-47 rifles and a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) barrel from the fleeing terrorists, while the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI provided heavy air support that neutralised several terrorists.

Uba said that after successfully reoccupying the location, Brigadier General Abdullahi commended the troops for their gallantry and urged them to sustain aggressive operations to further degrade terrorist elements in the area.

In a related development, troops deployed in Goniri community, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, killed over 20 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, including a senior commander identified as Abu Yusu, the Munzir of Dursula.

Uba said the terrorists launched coordinated attacks on the troops’ location from the night of March 9 through the early hours of March 10, 2026.

“The terrorists were detected through surveillance assets advancing simultaneously from Goniri village and the Ngamdu junction axis in an attempt to encircle the military position,” he said.

According to him, troops responded swiftly with superior firepower and tactical manoeuvres, while reinforcements were mobilised and the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI provided close air support.

“During the intense firefight, the terrorists were overwhelmed and forced to retreat in disarray, suffering heavy casualties. Over 20 terrorists were neutralised, including a senior commander identified as Abu Yusu,” he said.

Troops also recovered several weapons and equipment abandoned by the fleeing terrorists, including machine guns, AK-47 rifles, improvised explosive devices, bombs and assorted ammunition.

Further clearance operations in the Gwaigomari area within the Timbuktu Triangle led to the discovery of additional terrorist bodies during follow-up patrols conducted up to the early hours of March 11.

Uba disclosed that some troops sustained injuries during the encounter but were immediately evacuated for medical attention and are currently in stable condition.

He added that troops have maintained control of the affected locations and are conducting aggressive follow-up operations in surrounding areas, while additional search and clearance missions are ongoing in nearby communities where some wounded terrorists are suspected to have fled.

The Military High Command commended the troops for their gallantry and resilience and urged them to sustain the current operational tempo as Operation HADIN KAI intensifies efforts to defeat terrorism and restore lasting peace in the North-East.

Air Force hits terrorists in Sambisa

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has killed scores of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and destroying four heavily armed gun trucks in the Sambisa general area.

Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, NAF’s Director of Public Relations, confirmed that the precision air strikes, guided by credible intelligence, crippled the terrorists’ operational mobility and disrupted their logistics network.

“The coordinated air-ground operations continue to constrain hostile elements, shaping the battlespace and reinforcing security in the Northeast,” he said.

The operation follows a directive from the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, reaffirming the NAF’s commitment to sustained air dominance and joint-force synergy in Operation Hadin Kai.

Air Vice Marshal Precious Amadi, Chief of Operations, visited NAF Base Maiduguri to assess operational readiness, while Air Vice Marshal MC Ekwueme boosted personnel morale, underscoring the force’s unwavering resolve.

“The Nigerian Air Force remains focused on dominating the air domain, protecting civilians, and supporting ground forces in consolidating hard-won gains toward lasting security,” Air Marshal Aneke said.

The success of the operation marks another milestone in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, signaling a firm message that insurgents cannot escape the reach of intelligence-driven airpower.

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