Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralized at least 50 suspected ISWAP terrorists and repelled a coordinated assault on the headquarters of the 27 Brigade in Buni Gari, Yobe State, in an engagement that also claimed the lives of two Nigerian soldiers and resulted in the recovery of a significant weapons cache from the fleeing remnants of the insurgent force.
The attack was launched in the early hours of Thursday, May 8, 2026, at approximately 2:00 a.m., with terrorists advancing from multiple directions simultaneously. The assailants first struck from the western flank, then reinforced along the southern axis at Ganinga Junction, before attempting to encircle troops from the south-western corridor in a calculated effort to overwhelm the camp under cover of darkness.
Media Information Officer Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba said the assault was met with devastating firepower, tactical precision, and resolute resistance from troops who held their positions throughout the engagement and inflicted catastrophic losses on the attacking force. No part of the military formation was breached at any point during the encounter.
Exploitation operations conducted after the battle confirmed the recovery of 10 terrorist corpses within the immediate vicinity of the camp, while human intelligence indicated that more than 20 additional bodies were scattered across bushes around Gashua, Azare, and Kamuya along the insurgents’ withdrawal routes. Precision air interdiction strikes by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai accounted for an additional 20 terrorists neutralized as aircraft pursued retreating fighters along escape corridors.
Recovered items included eight AK-47 rifles, two General Purpose Machine Guns, two Rocket Propelled Grenade tubes, five RPG bombs, three RPG chargers, boxes of 7.62mm ammunition, loaded magazines, bandoliers, and three Improvised Explosive Device canisters. Some Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and gun trucks sustained minor damage during the operation, while wounded personnel were receiving treatment.
The military confirmed the loss of two soldiers, describing them as gallant personnel whose sacrifice embodied the highest traditions of service, courage, and commitment to the defense of the nation. Follow-up operations by troops and volunteer forces were underway to track fleeing insurgents and prevent any regrouping attempts.
