Nigerian troops have killed 48 suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters following separate attempts by insurgents to attack military positions in Borno and Yobe states.
The encounters, which took place between October 29 and 30, 2026, involved troops of the Joint Task Force, North East, operating under Operation HADIN KAI.
The military operations were conducted in Bitta, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, and at the North East Theatre Training School (NETTS), Buni Yadi, in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Although the military successfully repelled the attacks and recovered a significant quantity of weapons and ammunition, the confrontations came at a cost, with one soldier killed and two others sustaining minor injuries.
The latest incidents occurred barely 24 hours after troops reportedly eliminated scores of Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters during separate encounters in Kukawa and Marte local government areas of Borno State.
The Acting Media Information Officer at the headquarters of the Joint Task Force, North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, announced the latest development in a statement released on Friday.
He attributed the outcome to coordinated military action involving ground troops, air support and intelligence-gathering capabilities.
Military foils attack in Borno community
According to the statement, troops stationed in Bitta, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, came under attack on the night of October 29 when insurgents attempted to overrun their position.
The military responded with a combination of ground operations and aerial support, overwhelming the attackers and preventing them from achieving their objective.
Goni explained that the coordinated response inflicted heavy casualties on the insurgents and disrupted their planned assault.
The operation was part of continuing military efforts to protect strategic positions and prevent armed groups from exploiting security vulnerabilities in communities across the North-East.
The military’s successful defence of the position also demonstrated the importance of coordinating ground personnel with air assets when responding to attacks by insurgent groups.
48 fighters killed during Buni Yadi operation
In a separate engagement, troops confronted a large group of ISWAP fighters who attacked the North East Theatre Training School in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The attack began on October 29 and continued into the early hours of October 30, prompting a counter-offensive coordinated by the Theatre Command.
According to Goni, the confrontation lasted approximately five hours, during which troops deployed intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capabilities alongside air and ground forces.
The coordinated operation enabled the military to repel the attackers and inflict substantial losses on their ranks.
The military reported that 48 terrorists were killed during the counter-offensive, while troops recovered weapons, ammunition and other equipment from the scene.
The statement did not provide a separate casualty figure for the Bitta encounter, making it unclear whether additional terrorist deaths were recorded there beyond those reported in Buni Yadi.
Troops recover 42 AK-47 rifles, machine guns
Beyond the reported casualties among the insurgents, the recovery of weapons and ammunition represented another significant outcome of the operation.
The military listed 42 AK-47 rifles, five PKT machine guns, four general-purpose machine guns and one 60mm mortar among the items recovered.
Troops also seized 105 AK-47 magazines and two video cameras.
The recovered ammunition included 30 rounds of 12.7mm armour-piercing incendiary ammunition, 2,738 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 223 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition and 2,054 rounds of PKT ammunition.
The quantity of ammunition recovered highlights the scale of the weapons cache taken from the insurgents during the engagement.
The seizure could also limit the immediate ability of the affected fighters to replenish their supplies and sustain further attacks with the recovered equipment.
However, the military statement did not provide additional details about the ownership of the recovered cameras or whether the weapons would undergo further forensic examination.
One soldier dies, two injured
Despite the military’s reported success, the operation resulted in the death of one soldier.
Two other personnel sustained minor injuries during the encounters and were receiving medical treatment, according to the statement.
Goni expressed condolences over the loss of the serviceman, acknowledging the sacrifice made by military personnel deployed to confront insurgency in the North-East.
He added that the morale of troops remained high as they continued operations against terrorist groups operating across the theatre.
The incident underscores the dangers faced by military personnel stationed in areas where insurgents continue to mount attacks against security formations.
Military says operations will continue
The military described the latest engagements as evidence of the operational effectiveness and coordination of troops serving under Operation HADIN KAI.
Goni said the casualties inflicted on the insurgents and the recovery of their weapons and ammunition represented a setback for their operational capabilities.
The military continues to rely on intelligence gathering, surveillance, air support and ground operations to counter insurgent activities and protect vulnerable locations across the region.
Borno and neighbouring Yobe State have remained important areas of military operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP, whose activities have continued to challenge security efforts in Nigeria’s North-East.
The latest confrontations add to the series of encounters between security forces and insurgents in the region, with the military seeking to prevent attacks on its installations and restrict the movement of armed groups.
While the reported killing of 48 fighters marks a significant development in the latest operations, the death of a soldier also highlights the continuing risks confronting troops involved in the counter-insurgency campaign.
The military has maintained that its personnel will sustain pressure on terrorist groups as operations continue across the North-East.
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