Troops Crush Major Boko Haram Assault, Kill 80 Fighters in Mallam Fatori Battle

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have repelled a major insurgent attack on Mallam Fatori in north-eastern Nigeria, killing more than 80 fighters, including senior commanders, the military has said.

According to a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), the attack took place in the early hours of Wednesday when insurgents launched a coordinated assault from multiple directions, supported by armed drones.

The military said troops had anticipated the attack and mounted what it described as an “offensive-defensive” response, using coordinated ground manoeuvres and firepower to repel the fighters.

Air support from the Nigerian Air Force, alongside allied Nigerien air assets, was also deployed during the operation, targeting retreating insurgents and reinforcing troops on the ground.

Weapons recovered after the battle included 52 AK-47 rifles, eight PKT machine guns, seven rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers, five general-purpose machine guns and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition. Troops also seized improvised explosive devices, communication equipment and components of armed drones.

The military said three senior insurgent commanders – identified as Abdulrahman Gobara, Ba Yuram and Abou Ayyuba – were among those killed, alongside several other fighters.

Four soldiers were wounded during the fighting and have since been treated, while assessments of the wider impact of the air strikes are still ongoing.

The army described the outcome as a significant blow to the insurgents’ command structure and operational capacity, insisting that troops remain in control of the area despite what it called “misleading propaganda” suggesting otherwise.

According to the statement, security in Mallam Fatori and surrounding areas remains stable, urging residents to remain vigilant and to disregard unverified reports.