By Abdullahi Inuwa
Troops of the 162 Amphibious Battalion, operating under Operation Hadin Kai, have thwarted a daring overnight assault by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mandaragirau in Borno State.
The attack, which occurred around 2:00 a.m. on August 15, 2026, saw the terrorists launch a coordinated assault from two directions in an apparent attempt to overwhelm the troops and breach the military position.
Security sources said the soldiers, who were already on heightened alert, quickly responded after detecting the advancing fighters.
The Battalion Commander reportedly moved in with standby troops to reinforce ambush teams positioned along likely approaches to the base, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire.
The troops successfully repelled the attackers on one axis, disrupting their advance and forcing them to retreat. Another group reportedly attempted to outflank the defensive positions through the river line but met stiff resistance and was equally pushed back.
The fleeing terrorists were pursued by the troops, although the operation was suspended temporarily because of poor visibility and challenging terrain. Further exploitation of the area was expected to resume at first light.
No casualties were reported among the troops, while the extent of losses suffered by the terrorists remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.
The latest attack, however, was followed by another security threat when troops conducting clearance operations along the Mandaragirau-Kana axis discovered a command-detonated improvised explosive device (IED).
The explosive device, believed to have been planted to target troops moving towards a bridge along the route, was detected before it could be activated.
The clearance team subsequently carried out a controlled detonation, preventing what could have been another deadly attack on the advancing soldiers.
During the same operation, troops also discovered the remains of a civilian believed to have been killed by another IED planted by the terrorists in the area.
The discovery was made a few metres from the site of the earlier explosion as troops combed the route for additional explosives and other threats.
Security forces have continued to maintain heightened vigilance across the axis, with further clearance and exploitation operations expected as troops work to prevent the terrorists from regrouping or planting additional explosives along military supply routes.
The situation in the area remains calm but unpredictable as troops continue operations to secure the Mandaragirau-Kana corridor.
Source:@ZagazolaMakama
