Midnight Assaults Fail as Nigerian Troops Hold the Line in Borno

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Hadin Kai have successfully repelled coordinated terrorist attacks in Pulka and Mandaragirau, Borno State, confirming military dominance in Nigeria’s North East.

In a press statement issued on February 15, 2026, the military said terrorists launched determined assaults late on February 14, targeting defensive positions in both locations.

Troops under the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) thwarted the attacks after intense firefights.

According to the statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer at Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), “troops held their ground, inflicted heavy losses on the attackers, and reaffirmed OPHK’s dominance across the theatre.”

The military disclosed that a large group of suspected Boko Haram terrorists (BHT) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters advanced from the Sambisa Forest axis and launched a fierce attack on troops of Sector 1 in Pulka.

“In a well-coordinated response, troops engaged the terrorists in an intense firefight, successfully containing and reversing the assault,” the statement read.

Although part of the perimeter was briefly breached, destroying some combat enablers and accommodation facilities, swift reinforcements from the 26 Brigade forced the attackers to retreat toward the Sambisa axis.

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Credible intelligence reports indicated that the terrorists suffered severe casualties, including the death of a senior commander identified as Abou Aisha, who sustained a critical gunshot wound to the neck.

“There was no single human casualty to troops during the attack on Pulka,” the military confirmed.

Multi-Pronged Attack Thwarted in Mandaragirau

In a related development, troops of Sector 2 in Mandaragirau came under a coordinated multi-pronged attack by ISWAP fighters mounted on gun trucks and motorcycles.

Anticipating the assault, troops had tactically positioned combat teams that decisively engaged the attackers.

After a fierce exchange of fire, the attack was successfully repelled without any breach of the defensive location.

However, the military reported casualties among its ranks.

“Regrettably, some gallant personnel and Civilian Joint Task Force members paid the supreme price in the defence of their location, while few soldiers sustained injuries and were immediately evacuated by the Air Component of OPHK and the Nigerian Army Aviation platforms,” the statement said.

The military added that the fallen personnel’s sacrifice “embodies the highest traditions of service, courage, and commitment to the defence of Nigeria.”

Blood Trails and Shallow Graves Discovered

Follow-up operations along the Kimba axis revealed blood trails, shallow graves, and abandoned items believed to belong to fleeing terrorists.

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Eyewitness accounts reportedly confirmed the evacuation of multiple injured fighters toward Kimba, highlighting what the military described as significant enemy losses.

The Military High Command commended the bravery, professionalism, and fighting spirit of the troops, noting that the failed attacks reflect “the growing desperation of terrorist elements under sustained operational pressure.”

Operation Hadin Kai stressed its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks, safeguarding communities, and restoring lasting peace and economic stability across the North East region.

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Recruits undergo training at the headquaters of the Depot of the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State in northcentral Nigeria, on October 5, 2017
PHOTO/ Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP/Getty Images