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Nigerian troops have repelled coordinated assaults by fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State, killing a senior field commander during the confrontation.
The military said the attacks, which targeted forward operating positions in Pulka and Mandaragirau late on February 14, were successfully contained after intense gun battles that forced the insurgents to retreat with heavy casualties.
According to the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, a large group of terrorists advanced from the Sambisa Forest corridor and launched an aggressive assault on troops stationed in Pulka under Sector 1.
Soldiers responded with sustained firepower and tactical counter-manoeuvres, preventing the attackers from overrunning the base.
Although a portion of the defensive perimeter was briefly breached, resulting in damage to some equipment and facilities, reinforcements from the 26 Brigade reportedly arrived swiftly and turned the tide of the engagement.
The terrorists were pushed back towards the Sambisa axis in what military sources described as a disorderly retreat.
Intelligence assessments following the clash indicated that several insurgents were killed.
Among them was a senior commander identified as Abou Aisha, who was said to have suffered a fatal gunshot wound during the exchange.
Security officials added that troops recorded no fatalities in the Pulka encounter.
Meanwhile, another coordinated attack unfolded in Mandaragirau under Sector 2, where insurgents mounted on gun trucks and motorcycles attempted a multi-directional assault.
Anticipating the move, troops had strategically deployed combat teams around the area and engaged the attackers in a prolonged firefight.
The military confirmed that the Mandaragirau position was successfully defended.
However, some soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force lost their lives during the confrontation, while others sustained injuries.
The wounded personnel were evacuated for treatment by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai and Nigerian Army aviation units.
Further clearance operations along the Kimba axis reportedly uncovered blood trails, shallow graves and abandoned items believed to belong to fleeing insurgents.
Local accounts also suggested that several wounded fighters were evacuated by their associates, underscoring the scale of losses inflicted during the clashes.
Military authorities commended the troops for what they described as professionalism, resilience and operational superiority.
They maintained that the failed offensives reflect mounting pressure on insurgent groups operating in the North-East.
Operation Hadin Kai reiterated its commitment to sustaining offensive operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and restoring stability across the region.