Operations Show No Mercies: Troops Repel Multi-Pronged Assault, Neutralise Over 80 Terrorists in Mallam Fatori
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), in the early hours of Wednesday, March 18, 2026 successfully repelled a coordinated five-pronged terrorist attack on their positions in Mallam Fatori, Sector 3.
The terrorists, who advanced in large numbers on foot and deployed armed drones in a bid to breach troop locations—particularly along the frontage of Bravo Company from the Duguri axis—were met with overwhelming resistance.
Maintaining full situational awareness, the troops had anticipated the attack and deliberately prepared an offensive-defensive operation aimed at decisively defeating the assault. Through disciplined fire control, coordinated manoeuvre, and superior tactical execution, the attackers were engaged, disrupted, and routed, with no fewer than 80 terrorists neutralised.
The operation was further bolstered by precision close air support from the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, alongside strike missions by allied Nigerien air assets, intensifying pressure on the fleeing insurgents.
However, subsequent exploitation of the battlefield led to the recovery of a significant cache of arms and equipment, including 52 AK-47 rifles, eight PKT machine guns, seven RPG tubes, five General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), over 3,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 21 RPG bombs, and nine locally fabricated IEDs. Troops also recovered multiple magazines, communication radios, and components of armed drones used by the attackers.
Despite the scale and intensity of the assault, troop casualties were minimal. Four soldiers were wounded in action and promptly stabilised, while further Battle Damage Assessment of air interdictions is ongoing.
Notably, the operation led to the neutralisation of three key terrorist commanders—Mallam Abdulrahman Gobara, Mallam Ba Yuram, and Abou Ayyuba—who played critical roles in coordinating the failed attack.
Several other fighters were also eliminated, including Zarkawi, Ba Bunu, Rawa Fannami, Abowor Suwurti, Bulama Mil, Abu Aisha, Suleimana, Abu Rijal, Abu Ali, Abba Gana Kawiyya, and Ahmodu Hirasama. Their elimination is expected to significantly disrupt the group’s command structure and operational capacity in the area.
Military authorities described the outcome as a major operational success and a significant setback for terrorist elements in the region. They emphasised that the failed attack contradicts recent propaganda suggesting that troops are overstretched or losing ground.
On the contrary, OPHK forces, according to the statement, remain firmly in control of all positions, sustaining dominance through ongoing offensive operations, effective joint force coordination, and high troop morale.
The military reassured residents that the security situation in Mallam Fatori and surrounding areas remains under control, urging the public to remain vigilant and disregard unverified reports aimed at undermining ongoing operations.
The Military High Command commended the troops for their gallantry and resilience and charged them to sustain the current operational momentum.
