For the second time this week, military forces in northeast Nigeria successfully defended key positions from coordinated terrorist assaults, officials confirmed Friday.
Troops from the Joint Task Force (North East), operating under Operation Hadin Kai, repelled attacks on military positions at Azir Bridge in Sector 2 and Banki in Sector 1, Borno State. The assaults occurred in the early hours of March 13, 2026, with the first launched around 2 a.m. at Azir Bridge and a second approximately 3:40 a.m. targeting the base at Banki.
According to Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, the operation’s Media Information Officer, terrorists advanced in large numbers during both attacks but were met with immediate and decisive resistance. He stated that troops demonstrated advanced tactical readiness, launching well-coordinated counter-assaults that disrupted the attackers’ formations. The engagements were significantly strengthened by effective close air support from the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, which played a crucial role in defeating the assault.
“The troops remain firmly in control of the locations and continue to dominate the operational environment,” Lt.-Col. Uba said, adding that the failed attacks contradict what he termed “misleading propaganda and false reports” circulating on some online platforms. He reassured that the Joint Task Force maintains high morale and is committed to sustained offensive action against terrorist elements across the theatre of operations.
Operation Hadin Kai is the ongoing military campaign aimed at neutralizing terrorist threats in Nigeria’s North East region, a area that has for years faced insurgency-related violence. The successful defense of Azir Bridge and Banki underscores the continued operational capability of security forces in the region and their ability to protect strategic locations despite persistent threats. Military authorities emphasize that control of these key areas remains unchallenged as operations to dismantle terrorist enclaves persist.
