Esther Oseyiomon
Troops of Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, have foiled coordinated terrorist attacks on Limankara and Kukawa communities in Borno State, neutralising scores of ISWAP fighters in sustained land and air offensives.
The Media Information Officer, Headquarters Operation HADIN KAI, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, said the failed assaults were launched on the night of Feb. 20, 2026, but were repelled by alert troops backed by effective air support.
At Limankara, terrorists attempted to infiltrate the Forward Operating Base but were met with stiff resistance.
Reinforcements and coordinated air strikes forced the attackers to retreat, with several insurgents confirmed killed and no casualty recorded on the side of troops.
In Kukawa, terrorists mounted on gun trucks and motorcycles launched a multi-pronged assault from the Alagarno and Jemmu axes. Troops engaged them in a prolonged firefight that extended into the early hours of Feb. 21.
Air platforms conducted precision strikes, destroying a gun truck and killing four fighters onboard, while follow-up surveillance led to another strike that eliminated 10 insurgents fleeing on motorcycles.
Troops recovered 13 AK-47 rifles, 16 loaded magazines, three handheld radios and stretchers used by the terrorists, as well as evidence of shallow graves and blood trails along escape routes.
However, one soldier was killed in action and some combat enablers were damaged by rocket fire. The wounded were evacuated by Nigerian Army Aviation helicopters and are reported to be in stable condition.
In a related operation under Desert Sanity V in Gujba LGA of Yobe State, troops neutralised 15 terrorists, destroyed logistics assets and recovered arms, as the military high command commended personnel for sustaining pressure on insurgents in the North-East.