Military Forces Repel Coordinated Insurgent Attacks in Northeast Nigeria
Nigerian military forces operating under Operation HADIN KAI successfully repelled coordinated pre-dawn attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on multiple forward operating bases in Borno State, the military announced Sunday.
The assaults, which spanned the late hours of February 28 and the early morning of March 1, 2026, targeted positions within Sector II of the joint operation in northeastern Nigeria. In a statement, Media Information Officer Lt. Col. Sani Uba confirmed that troops engaged the attackers, forcing them to flee and seizing weapons and equipment.
The most intense attack occurred at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Mayanti, Bama Local Government Area. A large contingent of insurgents launched a heavy assault with sustained gunfire. Military personnel held their defensive positions, while reinforcing units navigated ambushes and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to counter the threat. The engagement resulted in the death of five insurgents and the recovery of multiple weapons, including PKT machine guns, RPG-7 launchers, AK-47 and FN rifles, and ammunition. One military officer was killed in the firefight.
Simultaneously, at approximately 1:15 a.m. on March 1, fighters attacked FOB Gajiram using heavy weaponry and an armed drone. The base’s defenders, supported by air assets, successfully repelled the assault. Following the insurgents’ withdrawal, three bodies were found along their escape route, along with rifles, anti-tank and mortar bombs, the captured drone, and other gear. One soldier wounded in the attack was medically evacuated via helicopter.
Additional encounters occurred near Kayawa village, where troops engaged retreating insurgents, causing them to abandon motorcycles and bicycles. In separate ambush operations near Bulturam Corner and Dadingel in Gujba Local Government Area, two insurgents were killed and weapons confiscated.
The military stated that all affected locations—Mayanti, Gajiram, and the surrounding ambush sites—remain under government control. Operation HADIN KAI, a comprehensive military campaign involving the Nigerian Army and other security agencies, continues across the northeastern theatre to degrade the capabilities of terrorist factions and secure vulnerable communities.
These attacks underscore the persistent threat posed by fragmented Boko Haram and ISWAP elements in the Lake Chad Basin region, despite years of sustained military pressure. The successful defense of forward bases highlights ongoing operational readiness, though the loss of personnel and use of drones by insurgents reflect an adaptive and enduring conflict. Military operations in the area are reported to be ongoing.
