OPHK Troops Kill 38 ISWAP Terrorists in Borno Raid

The Nigerian Army has delivered a crushing blow to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Timbuktu Triangle. Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), successfully repelled a massive assault on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Mandaragirau in Borno State. Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer for the JTF, confirmed the victory in a statement on Saturday. The engagement resulted in the neutralisation of 38 terrorists, marking one of the most significant tactical wins for the military this quarter.

Precision and coordination defined the military’s response. Upon detecting the insurgent advance, troops executed a “well-coordinated ambush” followed by a deliberate offensive-defensive counter-attack. The Air Component of OPHK provided critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) feedback, allowing ground forces to pin down the attackers. This combined-arms approach forced the insurgents into a “disorderly withdrawal,” leaving behind a trail of blood and abandoned hardware.

The scale of the defeat is being tallied along the insurgents’ escape routes. While eight bodies were recovered immediately at the engagement site, local intelligence and physical evidence confirmed an additional 30 fatalities. These bodies and discarded weapons were found strewn along the Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis, leading deep into the Timbuktu Triangle. Military exploitation teams reported finding significant blood trails and damaged equipment throughout the corridor.

Hard assets were recovered from the fleeing survivors. The inventory of seized weaponry includes seven AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, and four Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) bombs, alongside assorted ammunition. This loss of firepower further depletes the operational capacity of the ISWAP cell operating in the southern Borno axis. The military’s ability to strip the enemy of both personnel and equipment is essential for maintaining “area dominance” in the region.

The JTF recorded no fatalities during the fierce firefight. However, one Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle was struck by RPG fire during the heat of the battle. The personnel inside sustained injuries but have since been stabilised. This lack of friendly casualties, despite the intensity of the assault, highlights the improved tactical discipline and protective equipment now available to frontline troops.

Local communities have reacted to the news with widespread jubilation. For residents of Mandaragirau and surrounding villages, the successful defence of the FOB represents a return to relative safety. Further exploitation operations are currently ongoing as the army moves to recover more bodies and consolidate its gains. The military remains resolute in its mission to deny terrorists any freedom of action within the North-East theatre.