Odita Sunday 
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have foiled coordinated terrorist attacks on Pulka and Mandaragirau communities in Borno State, killing scores of insurgents including a senior commander, in what military authorities described as a decisive show of force and operational dominance.
The troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, successfully repelled the assaults launched late on February 14, 2026, by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters who attempted to overrun defensive positions in both locations.
In Pulka, a large group of terrorists advancing from the Sambisa Forest axis launched a fierce attack on troops of Sector 1. The attackers were met with stiff resistance as soldiers engaged them in an intense firefight, containing and reversing the assault.
Although a section of the perimeter was briefly breached, leading to the destruction of some combat enablers and accommodation facilities, swift reinforcement by 26 Brigade with overwhelming firepower forced the insurgents to retreat in disarray towards the Sambisa axis.
Media Information Officer Headquarters Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba said credible intelligence confirmed heavy casualties on the side of the terrorists, including a senior commander identified as Abou Aisha, who reportedly died from a gunshot wound sustained during the exchange. Several weapons and equipment were also lost by the fleeing fighters. Notably, there were no casualties recorded among troops during the Pulka attack.
In a related development, troops of Sector 2 in Mandaragirau came under a coordinated multi-pronged assault by ISWAP elements mounted on gun trucks and motorcycles. Anticipating the move, troops tactically positioned combat teams that decisively engaged the attackers.
The assault was successfully repelled after a fierce exchange of fire, with no breach recorded in the defensive lines. However, the military confirmed that some personnel and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force paid the supreme price in the defence of the location, while a few soldiers sustained injuries.
The wounded were immediately evacuated by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai and Nigerian Army Aviation platforms for medical attention.
Follow-up exploitation along the Kimba axis reportedly revealed blood trails, shallow graves and abandoned items, while eyewitness accounts indicated that several injured terrorists were evacuated towards Kimba, further underscoring the scale of losses suffered by the insurgents.
The Military High Command commended the troops for their bravery, professionalism and resilience, noting that the failed attacks reflect what it described as growing desperation among terrorist groups under sustained military pressure.
Operation Hadin Kai reaffirmed its resolve to dismantle terrorist networks, safeguard communities and restore lasting peace and economic stability across the North East.
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