Dozens of militants are believed to have been killed after Nigerian government forces thwarted a multi-front attack on a military base in the country’s northeast. The pre-dawn raid on Saturday targeted a Forward Operating Base in Mandaragirau, a volatile area in Borno State where the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) remains active.
‘Disorderly withdrawal’
Military officials say the insurgents launched a “halfhearted” attempt to overrun the base in the early hours of 28 March. However, troops from Operation Hadin Kai—the government’s joint task force—responded with coordinated ambushes and air support.
In a statement, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba said the intensity of the counter-offensive forced the militants into a “disorderly withdrawal.”Air force jets provided close air support, tracking the fleeing fighters into the “Timbuktu Triangle,” a notorious insurgent stronghold characterized by dense vegetation and difficult terrain.
The toll of the battle
While the military has recovered eight bodies at the immediate scene of the clash, intelligence from local sources suggests the true death toll is significantly higher.
Estimated casualties: At least 38 militants neutralized.
Equipment seized: Seven AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and assorted ammunition.
Military losses: No fatalities reported.
One Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle was damaged by RPG fire, with injured soldiers currently in stable condition.
Local reaction
Reports from the region suggest a sense of relief among local communities, who have long bore the brunt of ISWAP’s campaign of violence. Residents in nearby villages reportedly celebrated as troops began “exploitation operations” to clear the remaining pockets of resistance along the Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis.
The Nigerian military has struggled for over a decade to contain various Islamist insurgencies in the northeast. While the government frequently reports major victories, the region remains a complex security challenge where hit-and-run tactics and ambushes are common. For now, the army says it is consolidating its gains and searching for further equipment abandoned by the retreating fighters.
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