Troops of the Nigerian Army, operating under Operation HADIN KAI in the northeast, have repelled coordinated attacks by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State, killing 25 fighters and recovering 13 AK-47 rifles, military sources said. In a statement, the Theatre Command’s Media Information Officer, Sani Uba, said troops of Sector 2 under Operation DESERT SANITY V carried out a pre-dawn offensive on February 22, 2026, targeting insurgent positions around Lamusheri village in Gujba Local Government Area, identified as a key logistics and staging base. Fifteen militants were killed in the firefight, with others fleeing wounded. Troops destroyed defensive structures, logistics shelters, five tricycles, and two vehicles allegedly used for attacks.
In a related incident, insurgents attempted to breach a Forward Operating Base in Limankara, but were repelled by coordinated ground fire and air support from the Nigerian Air Force, forcing a retreat. Later the same night, ISWAP fighters launched a multi-directional assault on positions in Kukawa, using gun trucks and motorcycles. Security forces, again backed by precision airstrikes, destroyed a gun truck and several motorcycles and eliminated additional attackers. Follow-up sweeps recovered weapons, ammunition, communications gear and other equipment. The army confirmed one soldier was killed in action. Wounded personnel were evacuated by military helicopters and are reported to be in stable condition.
