Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Hadin Kai have lost two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) during a fierce night gun battle with ISWAP militants in Mairari, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The spokesperson for the operation, Mohammed Goni, in a statement on Thursday, said the troops repelled the attack during an exchange of gunfire on June 1, 2026, at about 11:25 p.m.
He said, “The troops responded with exceptional gallantry, engaging the attackers in a fierce firefight and forcing them to withdraw in confusion after inflicting heavy casualties on the terrorists and destroying their equipment.”
Mr Goni said items recovered include AK 47 rifles, magazines loaded with ammunition, rocket propelled gun tubes among others.
He added that surveillance footage further confirmed the evacuation of several dead and wounded terrorists from the battlefield.
He noted that Mairari village was recently resettled with over 950 households returning to the area.
He stated, “The attack was also a desperate attempt by the terrorists to instill fear among the residents and disrupt the ongoing resettlement process.”
Mr Goni said the terrorists’ objective was thwarted, as no civilian casualty was recorded during the attack.
“Two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) paid the supreme price during the intense encounter,” he said.
According to him, some military equipment items were damaged by rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire during the clash.
The army also mourned the fallen soldiers and extended its heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones.
In a related development, Mr Goni said a reinforcement team from Monguno detected and safely detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along the route before engaging the fleeing terrorists.
He stated, “The swift intervention further disrupted the insurgents’ withdrawal and inflicted additional casualties on them.
“Despite the terrorists’ desperate attempt to overrun the location, the troops maintained full control of the base and continue to dominate the operational environment through sustained offensive operations.”