Nigerian Troops Repel ISWAP, Boko Haram Attacks in Northeast

Nigerian troops operating under Operation Hadin Kai repelled multiple coordinated attacks by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram fighters across Borno and Yobe states in late February and early March 2026, inflicting heavy casualties on the insurgents while suffering losses including three senior officers.

The assaults, which began on the night of February 28 and extended through March 10, targeted several forward operating bases and communities in the restive northeast region. According to military officials, the attacks reflected the militants' desperation amid ongoing offensives that have disrupted their strongholds and supply lines. Troops maintained control of all positions, recovering weapons and equipment in the aftermath.

In Borno State, fighters launched a heavy assault on the Mayanti forward operating base near Bama on February 28, using automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, and armed drones. Gallant troops held their ground as reinforcements navigated ambushes and improvised explosive devices to repel the attackers, according to Lt. Col. Sani Uba, media information officer for the Joint Task Force Northeast. Five militant bodies were...