By Gloria Attah
Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, have repelled a large-scale attack by suspected ISWAP terrorists on military formations in Buni Gari, Yobe State, killing no fewer than 50 insurgents during a fierce overnight battle. The military said the coordinated assault targeted the Headquarters of the 27 Brigade and the Buni Gari checkpoint in the early hours of Thursday, May 8, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the terrorists launched the attack around 2:00 a.m. from multiple directions in what appeared to be an attempt to overrun the military base. The statement said the insurgents initially attacked from the western flank before advancing through the Ganinga Junction axis from the south and later from the south-west in an effort to encircle troops. However, soldiers reportedly resisted the assault with “devastating firepower” and coordinated defensive tactics, forcing the attackers to retreat after suffering heavy casualties.
Military authorities said troops employed indirect fire and offensive-defensive manoeuvres that “systematically degraded and dismantled the assault from all axes.”
“At no point was any part of the camp breached, as the integrity of the location remained fully intact throughout the engagement,” the statement added.
Operation HADIN KAI said troops recovered 10 bodies of terrorists around the battlefield, while intelligence reports indicated that more bodies were discovered along withdrawal routes around Gashua, Azare and Kamuya.
The Air Component of the operation also reportedly carried out precision airstrikes on fleeing insurgents after providing aerial surveillance and target tracking during the encounter.
According to the military, the air interdiction strikes accounted for an additional 20 terrorist casualties as fighter aircraft pursued retreating fighters along escape corridors.
Recovered items from the scene included eight AK-47 rifles, two General Purpose Machine Guns, two Rocket-Propelled Grenade tubes, RPG bombs, ammunition belts, loaded magazines and Improvised Explosive Device canisters.
The military described the recovered weapons as evidence of the scale of the attack and the insurgents’ intent to inflict significant damage.
Troops, alongside volunteer forces, are currently conducting follow-up operations in surrounding areas to track fleeing terrorists and prevent regrouping.
The military, however, confirmed that two soldiers were killed during the confrontation, while some personnel sustained injuries and are receiving treatment.
“Operation HADIN KAI honours their heroism and the bravery of all personnel who stood firm in the face of a determined but ultimately futile enemy assault,” the statement said.
Buni Gari, located along the Damaturu-Maiduguri highway, has witnessed repeated attacks by insurgents over the years due to its strategic location in Nigeria’s North-East counterinsurgency operations.
