Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, have successfully repelled coordinated terrorist attacks on military formations in Pulka and Mandaragirau communities of Borno State, reinforcing ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the North-East.
The military disclosed that the attacks occurred late on February 14, 2026, when terrorists launched coordinated offensives aimed at overrunning defensive positions in both locations. According to a statement issued by the task force’s Media Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, troops demonstrated discipline, tactical coordination and superior firepower, ultimately forcing the attackers to retreat after intense engagements.
In Pulka, a large group of suspected fighters belonging to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province advanced from the Sambisa Forest axis and launched a fierce assault on troops under Sector 1. Soldiers engaged the insurgents in a sustained firefight, successfully containing the attack despite a temporary breach of part of the defensive perimeter, which led to the destruction of some combat equipment and accommodation facilities.
Reinforcements from the 26 Brigade later delivered overwhelming firepower that compelled the attackers to withdraw in disarray towards the Sambisa axis.
Military intelligence reports indicated that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties, including the death of a senior commander identified as Abou Aisha, who reportedly sustained a fatal gunshot wound during the encounter. The military confirmed that no troop fatalities were recorded in the Pulka operation.
Meanwhile, troops deployed at Mandaragirau under Sector 2 also came under a coordinated multi-pronged attack involving gun trucks and motorcycles. Anticipating the assault, troops had strategically positioned combat teams that decisively engaged the attackers, successfully repelling the offensive without any breach of defensive positions. However, the military acknowledged that some personnel and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force lost their lives during the confrontation, while a number of injured soldiers were promptly evacuated for treatment by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI and aviation platforms of the Nigerian Army.
Follow-up exploitation operations along the Kimba axis reportedly revealed blood trails, shallow graves and abandoned materials, while eyewitness accounts confirmed that several wounded terrorists were evacuated from the battlefield, suggesting significant losses among the insurgents.
The Military High Command commended the bravery, professionalism and fighting spirit of the troops, noting that the failed attacks reflect mounting pressure on terrorist groups operating in the region. Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks, safeguarding civilian populations and restoring lasting peace and economic stability across Nigeria’s North-East.
