NIGERIA: Troops Repel ISWAP Assault On Mairari Base, Neutralise Two Suicide Vehicle Bombs

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have successfully foiled a late-night attack by Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists on a Forward Operating Base in Mairari, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, destroying two Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices and inflicting heavy casualties on the assailants.

The coordinated assault began late on Saturday and spilled into the early hours of Sunday, with the terrorists attempting to overrun the base using the suicide vehicles as a primary breach tool.

Vigilant troops detected and neutralised both VBIEDs through precise defensive fire before they could reach the perimeter, preventing any penetration of the facility.

CCTV footage and ground reports confirmed that several terrorists were killed in the ensuing firefight, with surviving elements forced to retreat while evacuating their dead and wounded under cover.

In a swift follow-up exploitation operation, troops from Sector 3, reinforced by the Theatre Command Quick Reaction Group, Nigeria Police Crack Team, and Civilian Joint Task Force, swept the area. The clearance yielded multiple terrorist bodies alongside abandoned weapons and logistics.

Recovered items included AK-47 rifles with magazines and ammunition, PKT rounds, hand grenades, motorcycles, communication equipment, combat gear, medical supplies, and assorted materials supporting prolonged operations. The seizures have significantly degraded the group’s local capabilities and restricted their movement.

The neutralised VBIEDs were destroyed by defensive action, causing limited damage to two sections of the access road. No breach of the base occurred, underscoring the troops’ high state of readiness.

Aggressive patrols are now underway in the surrounding areas to dominate the terrain, deter further incursions, and reassure nearby communities of sustained security coverage.

In a statement, Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed the troops’ unwavering resolve to eliminate all terrorist threats and restore enduring peace across the North East, describing the failed Mairari attack as evidence of the forces’ professionalism and operational superiority.

The command continues to prioritise civilian protection, network disruption, and regional stability amid ongoing count

er-insurgency efforts.