Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully repelled coordinated terrorist attacks on Pulka and Mandaragirau in Borno State, inflicting heavy casualties on the insurgents and reaffirming the military’s dominance in the North-East theatre.
According to a statement by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the assaults occurred late on February 14, when terrorists launched determined attempts to overrun defensive positions in the two communities.
In Pulka, troops of Sector 1 came under heavy attack from a large group of suspected Boko Haram terrorists/ISWAP fighters advancing from the Sambisa Forest axis. The attackers reportedly sought to overwhelm the troops in a coordinated offensive.
However, soldiers responded with disciplined firepower and tactical manoeuvres, successfully containing the assault. Although a section of the perimeter was briefly breached—resulting in the destruction of some combat enablers and accommodation—swift reinforcement from the 26 Brigade reversed the situation and forced the terrorists to retreat towards the Sambisa axis in disarray.
Credible intelligence, the statement noted, indicates that the insurgents suffered significant casualties, including a senior commander identified as Abou Aisha, who reportedly died from a gunshot wound sustained during the firefight. Several weapons and equipment were also lost by the fleeing terrorists. No soldier was killed or injured during the Pulka attack.
In Mandaragirau, troops of Sector 2 were targeted in a coordinated multi-pronged assault by ISWAP fighters mounted on gun trucks and motorcycles. Anticipating the attack, troops had tactically positioned combat teams that decisively engaged the terrorists and repelled them after a fierce exchange of fire, with no breach recorded.
The military, however, confirmed that some gallant personnel and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force paid the supreme price while defending the location, while a few soldiers sustained injuries. The wounded were promptly evacuated by the Air Component of OPHK and Nigerian Army Aviation platforms for medical attention.
Follow-up exploitation along the Kimba axis revealed blood trails, shallow graves, and abandoned items believed to belong to the fleeing terrorists. Eyewitness accounts also confirmed the evacuation of multiple insurgent casualties towards Kimba, underscoring the scale of losses inflicted on the attackers.
The Military High Command commended the bravery, professionalism, and fighting spirit of the troops, noting that the failed assaults reflect growing desperation among terrorist elements under sustained operational pressure.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its resolve to dismantle terrorist networks, safeguard communities, and restore lasting peace and economic stability across the North-East region.
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