Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have dealt a crushing blow to suspected ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorists following a failed attack on military positions in Kirawa, along the Nigeria–Cameroon border in Borno State.
The attempted assault, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, 22 May 2026, targeted positions occupied by troops of the 153 Task Force Battalion under the ongoing Operation DESERT SANITY and SIEGE OPERATIONS.
However, alert troops, working alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), swiftly detected the infiltration attempt and responded with overwhelming firepower.
According to a statement by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the terrorists were forced to abandon their mission and flee toward the Cameroon axis in disarray after suffering heavy casualties during the fierce exchange.
The statement states that coordinated support from Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance assets, as well as air platforms of the OPHK Air Component and partner forces, played a decisive role in repelling the attack and sustaining pressure on the fleeing insurgents.
Following the operation, troops confirmed the neutralisation of at least 12 terrorists, while several others reportedly escaped with gunshot wounds, leaving visible blood trails along their withdrawal routes.
They also recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition from the scene, including AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenade systems, a PKT machine gun, and assorted rounds of ammunition a development military authorities say has further weakened the terrorists’ operational capability in the area.
Troops have since maintained dominance of the location, with exploitation operations ongoing to track down fleeing insurgents and recover additional weapons and equipment.
The Military High Command commended the gallantry, professionalism, and swift response of the troops, describing the successful defence as the third major operational victory recorded within the week.
The Joint Task Force equally reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying military operations until all terrorist elements operating within the theatre are completely neutralised.