SAA event in Nigeria on Fri 19th June 2026

Troops Repel ISWAP Attack, Kill Scores in Fierce Air-Ground Offensive in Borno 

By: Zagazola Makama 

Troops of Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have successfully repelled coordinated attacks by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists and inflicted heavy casualties on the insurgents during a decisive counter-offensive in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.

Military sources said the attacks occurred in the early hours of Thursday when ISWAP fighters launched simultaneous assaults on troops’ positions at Dusten Kura and Chara Road in the Buratai axis of southern Borno.

According to the sources, the terrorists attempted to overrun the military locations but were met with stiff resistance from alert troops who had detected their movement through intelligence-driven surveillance.

The sources said troops immediately engaged the insurgents with superior firepower while coordinating a robust air and ground response that ultimately forced the terrorists into a disorderly retreat.

“The terrorists launched multiple attacks on troops’ locations at Dusten Kura and Chara Road in Buratai. However, alert troops, supported by credible intelligence, swiftly detected the incursion and responded with overwhelming force.

“The coordinated response involved both ground troops and the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, resulting in heavy casualties on the terrorists and the disruption of their attack plans,” the statement said.

Military sources disclosed that the Air Component played a critical role in the operation through the deployment of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets, as well as precision strike platforms of the Nigerian Air Force.

The aerial assets reportedly tracked the movement of the terrorists, provided real-time intelligence to ground forces and conducted precision strikes on identified enemy positions.

The integrated air-ground operation, according to the military, significantly degraded the terrorists’ fighting capability and prevented them from gaining any tactical advantage.

“The seamless integration of air and ground forces proved decisive. Precision air support disrupted the terrorists’ assault and inflicted severe losses on their personnel and equipment,” the statement added.