Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully repelled a coordinated attack by ISWAP terrorists on the 120 Task Force Battalion in Gonori, under Sector 2 of the North-East theatre, killing scores of insurgents during a fierce overnight battle supported by air strikes.
According to a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), the terrorists launched the attack from the Mandunari axis around midnight on Saturday, May 9, extending into the early hours of Sunday, May 10, 2026.
The statement revealed that the terrorists were detected early by an ambush team positioned ahead of the battalion location. Troops immediately launched a coordinated spoiling attack, forcing the insurgents into what military sources described as a “devastating killing zone.”
Military authorities confirmed that the terrorists failed to breach the camp and no equipment was lost during the confrontation.
Air platforms from the Air Component of OPHK alongside the Nigerian Army Aviation were swiftly deployed to support ground troops, carrying out precision strikes on fleeing terrorists in a synchronised air-land operation that reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on the insurgents.
“Exploitation of the general area revealed extensive blood trails, body parts and battle damage consistent with scores of terrorist casualties,” the statement noted.
Troops also recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition from the scene, including one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), two PKT machine guns, five AK-47 rifles, several belts of assorted ammunition, and other personal effects abandoned by the terrorists during their retreat.
The military added that wounded soldiers from the encounter are in stable condition and currently receiving medical attention.
Exploitation and pursuit operations are said to be ongoing in the area to track down fleeing insurgents and consolidate on the operational gains recorded during the battle.
The latest victory, according to OPHK, underscores the sustained operational dominance of troops in the North-East and highlights the continued pressure being mounted against terrorist elements across the theatre.
