Troops of the Joint Task Force, North-East, under Operation Hadin Kai, have successfully repelled coordinated attacks by suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province, killing more than 20 insurgents in Yobe State.

The attacks targeted troops stationed in Goniri, under Sector 2 of the operation, from the night of Monday, March 9, through the early hours of Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

The military disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lt Col Sani Uba.

According to the statement, the terrorists attempted to launch coordinated assaults from multiple directions in a bid to encircle the troops’ positions

“Troops of the Joint Task Force (North-East), deployed in Goniri under Sector 2 of Operation HADIN KAI, have successfully foiled coordinated attacks launched by ISWAP terrorists on their location in Goniri, Yobe State, killing over 20 terrorists.

“The attacks occurred from the night of Monday, March 9, 2026, through the early hours of Tuesday, March 10, 2026, when the troops came under heavy assault from multiple directions,” Uba said.

He explained that the terrorists were initially detected through surveillance assets as they advanced simultaneously from Goniri village and the Ngamdu Junction axis.

“The terrorists were initially detected through surveillance assets advancing simultaneously from Goniri village and the Ngamdu Junction axis in an apparent attempt to encircle the military location,” he added.

Uba noted that the troops responded swiftly with superior firepower and coordinated defensive manoeuvres. Reinforcements were mobilised, while the air component of the operation provided close air support, significantly degrading the terrorists’ fighting capability.

“During the intense firefight, the terrorists were overwhelmed and forced to retreat in disarray, suffering heavy casualties. Over 20 terrorists were neutralised, including a senior terrorist commander identified as Abu Yusu, the Munzir of Dursula,” the statement said.

The military spokesman said troops recovered several weapons and equipment abandoned by the fleeing insurgents, including multiple machine guns, AK-47 rifles, improvised explosive devices, bombs, and assorted ammunition.

Uba further disclosed that follow-up clearance operations were conducted in Gwaigomari within the Timbuktu Triangle, where additional bodies of terrorists were discovered during patrols carried out up to the early hours of Wednesday, March 11.

He also stated that soldiers injured during the encounter had been evacuated for medical treatment and were in stable condition.

“The location remains firmly under the control of Operation HADIN KAI troops,” he said.

He added that ground forces, supported by the air component, were conducting aggressive follow-up operations in the surrounding areas, including search and clearance operations in nearby communities where wounded terrorists were suspected to have fled.

Uba reiterated that Operation HADIN KAI remains committed to defeating insurgency and restoring lasting peace in the North-East.

Boko Haram kills one, rustles 1,400 sheep

In another development, suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists attacked a nomadic settlement in Wuturo, Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

The incident left one herder and about 1,400 sheep rustled.

The Public Relations Officer of the Borno State police command, ASP Nahum Daso, confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday, noting that one person was also injured.

Daso said the settlement was invaded on Tuesday at about 2230 hours by a group that rode on five motorcycles.

The statement read, “The Borno State Police Command condemned the recent attack on a nomadic settlement at Wuturo, Konduga Local Government Area, allegedly carried out by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

“Following a report received by Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Konduga, at Konduga Police Division, that on 10th March, 2026, at about 2230hrs, unknown gunmen riding on five motorcycles invaded the settlement,” he said.

According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that during the attack, one Ahmadu Baida (40) sustained fatal gunshot injuries, while another, Mohammadu Baida (30), sustained a gunshot wound on his left leg.

“The attackers also rustled about one thousand four hundred (1,400) sheep belonging to the herdsmen,” he added.

On Thursday, the military announced that it had reclaimed its base in Ngoshe, after an ISWAP attack earlier in the month.

The Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa (retd), speaking after a meeting with service chiefs on Wednesday, declared that the military would rejig its operations in its theatres of operations to curb all threats posed by the insurgents.