Troops neutralise 80 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters in Borno’s Mallam Fatori

2026-03-18 - 16:13

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have confirmed the killing of 80 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters during a failed coordinated assault on Mallam Fatori in Abadam Local Government Area, Borno State. Abadam, located along the border with Niger Republic in Northern Borno Senatorial District, came under attack early Wednesday as insurgents advanced on foot, deploying armed drones in a bid to breach the 68 Battalion positions, particularly along the Bravo Company frontage from Duguri. In a statement, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, said the troops had anticipated the attack and executed a well-coordinated defensive operation, engaging the insurgents with disciplined fire control and superior tactical execution. “Through coordinated manoeuvre and situational awareness, the attackers were disrupted, routed, and neutralised in disarray, with no fewer than 80 terrorists killed,” he noted. The engagement was bolstered by precision airstrikes from the Nigerian Air Force, complemented by allied Nigerien air assets. Troops recovered a significant cache of weapons and combat equipment, including 52 AK-47 rifles, 8 PKT machine guns, 7 RPG tubes, 5 General Purpose Machine Guns, over 3,000 rounds of ammunition, 21 RPG bombs, 9 locally fabricated IEDs, multiple magazines, communication radios, and drone components. Four soldiers sustained minor injuries during the operation and were promptly stabilised. A follow-up assessment of the air interdictions remains ongoing. The operation also eliminated three high-profile terrorist commanders—Mallam Abdulrahman Gobara, Mallam Ba Yuram, and Abou Ayyuba—alongside several other identified fighters, including Zarkawi, Ba Bunu, Rawa Fannami, Abowor Suwurti, Bulama Mil, Abu Aisha, Suleimana, Abu Rijal, Abu Ali, Abba Gana Kawiyya, and Ahmodu Hirasama. Uba described their elimination as a “severe disruption to the terrorist command structure and operational capability” in the region. The Joint Task Force emphasized that the victory highlights the growing combat effectiveness and resilience of Operation HADIN KAI forces, countering recent misinformation suggesting troop setbacks. “Troops remain firmly in control of all locations, maintaining dominance through sustained offensive operations, effective joint force integration, and high morale,” Uba added. The operation serves as a major setback for Boko Haram/ISWAP in the Lake Chad region, reinforcing the military’s control over Mallam Fatori and surrounding areas while urging the public to remain vigilant and disregard unverified reports.