Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), backed by the Air Component and Nigerian Army Aviation, have repelled an attack by ISWAP terrorists on the 120 Task Force Battalion in Gonori, Borno State, killing scores of insurgents during a coordinated air-land operation.
The military said the failed attack occurred late Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday, May 10, 2026, when terrorists advanced from the Mandunari axis towards the military formation under Sector 2 of OPHK.
According to the military, troops on ambush duty detected the insurgents’ movement at about midnight and swiftly launched a spoiling attack based on actionable intelligence and established joint operational procedures.
The operation reportedly trapped the terrorists in what the military described as a “devastating killing zone” before they could breach the camp’s defensive perimeter.
Air assets from the OPHK Air Component and Nigerian Army Aviation were subsequently deployed in a synchronised assault to support ground troops, targeting fleeing insurgents and inflicting heavy casualties.
Military authorities said the attack was completely foiled, stressing that the camp was never breached and no equipment was lost during the encounter.
Preliminary battle damage assessment revealed multiple blood trails, body parts, and several terrorist corpses within the area, indicating what the military described as “significant terrorist losses.”
Security forces also recovered one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), two PKT machine guns, five AK-47 rifles, belts of assorted ammunition, and other combat accessories from the scene.
The military added that troops injured during the operation are currently receiving treatment and are responding well.
It noted that exploitation and pursuit operations are ongoing to track fleeing terrorists and consolidate gains recorded from the operation.
Operation HADIN KAI said the successful defence of Gonori highlights improved coordination, intelligence-driven operations, and growing synergy among the Armed Forces and other security agencies in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign in the North East.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups and denying criminal elements freedom of action across the region.
