Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, Nigeria’s ongoing counter‑insurgency campaign in the northeast, have neutralised more than 20 fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during a coordinated attack in Yobe State.

According to military sources, the militants launched simultaneous advances on a military position in Goniri between the night of March 9 and the early hours of March 10, 2026. The insurgents reportedly moved in from Goniri village and the Ngamdu junction axis in what appeared to be a concerted effort to overwhelm the troops.

Troops responded with disciplined defensive tactics and superior firepower, engaging the attackers in intense gun battles that lasted several hours. In the process, they killed over 20 jihadists, including a senior ISWAP commander identified as Abu Yusu. Several insurgents were reportedly neutralised as the troops repelled the offensive.

While confirming the insurgent losses, military sources said some Nigerian soldiers also sustained injuries during the engagement, though the full toll on government forces was not immediately disclosed.

The clash comes amid a broader uptick in violence across Nigeria’s northeast, where extremist groups have stepped up attacks on military positions and civilian communities in recent weeks. Authorities say these assaults are part of ongoing efforts by ISWAP and allied factions to destabilise security operations in the region.

The Nigerian government has reiterated its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and ensuring security in affected states, with military leadership coordinating intensified operations under Operation Hadin Kai.