Borno Under Siege: Nigerian Troops Crush Terrorist Assaults on Military Bases, High-Profile Commander Surrenders

Nigerian troops have foiled coordinated terrorist attacks on two Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Borno State, killing several insurgents and forcing a high-ranking commander to surrender.

The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), repelled the parallel onslaughts at Gajiram in Nganzai Local Government Area and Mairari in Guzamala Local Government Area following intense firefights.

Night Raids Repelled with Air Support

The first encounter occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026, when intelligence assets detected terrorists advancing toward the Gajiram base.

According to military officials, the early detection allowed ground troops and the air component of OPHK to coordinate a swift defensive response, forcing the attackers to retreat into nearby forests.

Hours later, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters launched a separate assault on the Mairari base. Troops engaged the insurgents in a fierce gun battle, backed by robust close air support.

“Our troops met the attackers with stiff resistance,” a military spokesperson stated. “The integrity of the Forward Operating Base was maintained, and we successfully contained the attack while inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy.”

Following a clearance operation at the Mairari site, troops recovered 4 terrorist corpses, AK-47 rifles and ammunition magazines. Rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) bombs, a camcorder, and tactical gear

A few soldiers who sustained injuries during the active combat were stabilized and airlifted to a military hospital for treatment.

Top JAS Commander Lays Down Arms

Amid the heightened military pressure, the factional Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) terror group suffered a major blow as two fighters—including a Qaid (high-ranking commander)—surrendered to frontline troops alongside their weapons.

Military leadership noted that sustained land and air bombardments are continuing to fracture the command structure of the insurgent groups operating within the Lake Chad basin.