Troops of the Nigerian military have killed a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), identified as Abou Aisha, while foiling coordinated terrorist attacks on Pulka and Mandaragirau in Borno State.

The attacks occurred on February 14, 2026, according to a statement issued on Monday by the spokesman of Operation Hadin Kai, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba.

Uba said credible intelligence confirmed that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties, including the death of Abou Aisha, who sustained a critical gunshot wound to the neck.

“Credible intelligence indicates that the terrorists suffered severe casualties, including a senior commander identified as Abou Aisha, who sustained a fatal gunshot injury to the neck, alongside significant losses of weapons and equipment,” he said.

He explained that the troops decisively repelled coordinated attacks in Pulka and Mandaragirau after insurgents attempted to overrun defensive positions in both locations.

According to him, through superior firepower, tactical foresight, battle discipline and determination, the troops held their ground, inflicted heavy losses on the attackers and maintained dominance across the theatre of operations.

Uba disclosed that on the same night, a large group of suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists advanced from the Sambisa Forest axis and launched a fierce assault on troops of Sector 1 in Pulka.

“In a well-coordinated response, troops engaged the terrorists in an intense firefight, successfully containing and reversing the attack. Although a section of the perimeter was briefly breached, resulting in the destruction of some combat enablers and accommodation, swift reinforcement with overwhelming firepower from 26 Brigade forced the terrorists to retreat in disarray towards the Sambisa axis,” he said.

On the Mandaragirau attack, Uba said troops came under a coordinated multi-pronged assault by ISWAP fighters mounted on gun trucks and motorcycles.

Anticipating the attack, he said troops tactically deployed combat teams that decisively engaged the terrorists, successfully thwarting the assault after a fierce exchange of fire without any breach of the location’s defences.

Uba, however, confirmed that some soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force paid the supreme price in the defence of their positions, while a few others sustained injuries.

He said the wounded personnel were promptly evacuated by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai and Nigerian Army Aviation platforms for medical attention.

“Their sacrifice embodies the highest traditions of service, courage and commitment to the defence of Nigeria,” he added.

Uba further disclosed that follow-up operations along the Kimba axis revealed blood trails, shallow graves and abandoned items, while eyewitness accounts confirmed the evacuation of multiple terrorist casualties towards Kimba, underscoring the scale of the enemy’s losses. (Guardian)