Troops from the Joint Task Force, North-East, deployed under Operation HADIN KAI, successfully repelled coordinated attacks by alleged Islamic State West Africa Province fighters, killing more than 20 rebels in Yobe State.
The strikes targeted troops stationed in Goniri, Sector 2 of the operation, throughout the night of Monday, March 9, until the early hours of Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
The military announced this in a statement issued Wednesday by the Joint Task Force’s Media Information Officer, Lt. Col. Sani Uba.
According to the statement, the terrorists sought to encircle the troops’ positions by launching coordinated assaults from various directions.
“Troops of the Joint Task Force (North-East), deployed in Goniri under Sector 2 of Operation HADIN KAI, have successfully foiled coordinated attacks launched by ISWAP terrorists on their location in Goniri, Yobe State, killing over 20 terrorists,” Uba said.
“The attacks occurred from the night of Monday, March 9, 2026, through the early hours of Tuesday, March 10, 2026, when the troops came under heavy assault from multiple directions.”
He explained that the terrorists were initially discovered by surveillance assets as they moved simultaneously from Goniri village to the Ngamdu Junction axis.
“The terrorists were initially detected through surveillance assets advancing simultaneously from Goniri village and the Ngamdu Junction axis in an apparent attempt to encircle the military location,” he added.
Uba stated that the troops responded quickly, using superior weaponry and organized defensive maneuvers.
Reinforcements were deployed, and the aviation component of the operation provided close air support, considerably reducing the terrorists‘ fighting capability.
“During the intense firefight, the terrorists were overwhelmed and forced to retreat in disarray, suffering heavy casualties.
“Over 20 terrorists were neutralized, including a senior terrorist commander identified as Abu Yusu, the Munzir of Dursula,” the statement said.
According to a military spokeswoman, troops seized a variety of weapons and equipment abandoned by fleeing rebels, including several machine guns, AK-47 rifles, improvised explosive devices, bombs, and ammunition.
Uba further revealed that follow-up clearance operations were carried out in Gwaigomari, within the Timbuktu Triangle, where additional terrorist dead were discovered during patrols conducted till early Wednesday morning, March 11.
He further added those soldiers injured during the incident had been evacuated for medical treatment and were in stable condition.
“The location remains firmly under the control of Operation HADIN KAI troops,” he said.
He also stated that ground forces, assisted by the air component, were undertaking vigorous follow-up operations in the surrounding areas, including search and clearance operations in nearby settlements where injured terrorists were suspected of fleeing.
Uba underlined Operation HADIN KAI’s commitment to crushing the insurgency and establishing long-term peace in the North-East.
