Nigerian Troops Repel ISWAP Attack, Kill Three Terrorists

On May 9-10, 2026, troops from the Nigerian Army's 17 Brigade, part of the Joint Task Force North East, successfully repelled an attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists at the Gonori sector. The assault began late on May 9 and continued into the early hours of May 10.

During this operation, the troops killed three terrorists and recovered an AK-47 rifle, among other items. This incident followed a recent large-scale coordinated attack on military headquarters by ISWAP, where troops had previously reported killing no fewer than 50 insurgents and recovering a large cache of arms and ammunition.

Additionally, the Nigerian Army's operations in Katsina State resulted in the ambush of a group of terrorists, leading to the recovery of weapons and cash. Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, confirmed the success of military operations targeting armed bandits and insurgents, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to secure the region.