Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised 48 insurgents after repelling coordinated nocturnal assaults launched against military installations in Borno and Yobe states.
The confrontations occurred between Thursday night, October 29, and the early hours of Friday, October 30, 2026. In Borno State, insurgents attempted to breach a forward operating base at Bitta in the Gwoza Local Government Area. Simultaneously, a separate armed detachment attacked the North East Theatre Training School situated in Buni Yadi, within the Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State. The engagement at Buni Yadi developed into an intense, five-hour battle that began around 9:00 p.m. as heavily armed fighters belonging to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attempted to overrun the base under the cover of darkness.
Acting Media Information Officer for the theatre headquarters, Captain Mohammed Goni, confirmed that ground forces withstood the initial assault before initiating a decisive counter-offensive. Coordinated by the Theatre Command, real-time intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance units tracked enemy movements, while military aircraft and close-air support platforms engaged retreating combatants.
A total of 48 terrorists were neutralised across both axes. Military authorities confirmed that one Nigerian soldier was killed during the fierce exchange, while two others sustained minor wounds and are currently receiving medical attention.
Following mop-up and clearance operations, troops recovered a large arsenal abandoned at the scenes. The seized hardware includes 42 assault rifles, five heavy machine guns, four general-purpose machine guns, one 60-millimetre mortar tube, 105 rifle magazines, two video cameras, and more than 5,000 rounds of assorted live ammunition. Defence officials stated that the successful counter-operation has severely depleted the combat logistics and operational momentum of the terror networks across the northeastern corridor.
