Soldiers Killed as Troops Repel ISWAP Attack on Borno Military Position
Nigerian troops repelled an attack by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province on a military position in Kukawa, Borno State, but some soldiers were killed in the fighting, the military has confirmed.
The attack targeted troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion on Tuesday, October 6.
Operation Hadin Kai said troops, supported by the air component, repelled the assault.
The military did not state how many Nigerian soldiers were killed.
The Associated Press separately cited a senior military officer who said 10 soldiers died. The officer was not authorised to speak publicly, and that figure has not been confirmed in the military’s formal statement.
Military says more than 25 ISWAP fighters killed
Operation Hadin Kai said its preliminary assessment indicated that more than 25 ISWAP fighters were killed during the counter-offensive.
The military also said 14 bodies were recovered and that troops seized six AK-47 rifles and ammunition.
Those figures remain military claims and have not been independently verified by IDNN.
Operational details that could reveal troop positions, reinforcement routes or continuing security activity are not included.
Soldier death toll remains unresolved
The central uncertainty is the number of Nigerian soldiers killed.
The military has acknowledged losses but has not published a final figure.
AP’s figure of 10 comes from a senior military officer rather than the formal Operation Hadin Kai statement.
Until the military releases a definitive casualty figure or the number is independently corroborated, the safest formulation remains that some Nigerian soldiers were killed.
What the attack means
The assault adds to continuing security pressure in Borno, where ISWAP remains capable of attacking military positions.
For residents in the wider area, the immediate public-interest question is whether the fighting creates any continuing threat to nearby communities or movement routes.
For the military, the next accountability point is a clear and current casualty account once families have been notified and the information can safely be released.
The verified picture remains serious but controlled:
ISWAP attacked a Nigerian military position in Kukawa. Troops repelled the assault. Nigerian soldiers were killed. The final troop death toll remains unresolved.