Troops Foil ISWAP Attack on Borno Military Base, Recover AK-47s and RPG Launcher

Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have repelled an attempted attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on a military base in Borno State.

The attack reportedly targeted Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mandaragirau in Biu Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of Saturday, August 15, 2026. According to the military, the assault began at about 2:00 a.m. when the terrorists launched a coordinated attack from two directions.

The Joint Task Force said its surveillance systems detected the movement of the attackers as they approached the base. Troops subsequently deployed a combat team to intercept the terrorists before they could overrun the military position.

A fierce exchange of gunfire reportedly followed as the troops engaged the attackers. According to the military account, another group of terrorists attempted to bypass the troops and infiltrate the base but was also successfully repelled.

Following the failed assault, the terrorists reportedly withdrew from the area. The troops then launched a hot pursuit and conducted operations along the routes and areas used by the attackers during their retreat.

The military said several terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, although it did not provide a specific number of casualties among the attackers. Surveillance footage reportedly showed some of the terrorists dragging the bodies of their colleagues towards the Timbuktu Triangle.

During the operation, troops recovered several weapons and items allegedly abandoned by the fleeing terrorists. The recovered equipment included AK-47 rifles with loaded magazines and a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher with bombs and chargers.

Other items recovered from the area included a camcorder and additional equipment. The recovery of the weapons is expected to further support ongoing efforts by security forces to degrade the operational capabilities of insurgent groups operating in the North-East.

The Joint Task Force reported that no casualty was recorded among its personnel during the attack. The Theatre Command subsequently commended the troops of the 162 Amphibious Battalion for their response to the attempted assault.

The military reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining pressure on terrorist groups operating in the North-East, saying Operation HADIN KAI would continue efforts to dominate the operational environment, restrict terrorists’ freedom of movement and contribute to the restoration of lasting peace and security across the region.