Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have killed six suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during an attack on a military base in Garaha, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The attack occurred on Monday, October 12, 2026, at about 9:07 p.m., when the insurgents reportedly advanced on foot from the Lar axis in an attempt to overrun the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Garaha.
According to reports from the area, the terrorists also attempted to destroy a telecommunications mast hosting military surveillance cameras used to monitor activities and support patrols in the area.
The attackers were, however, repelled by the troops, who received support from forest guards and local hunters.
The chairman of Hong Local Government Area, Dr. Aliyu Yerima Sa’ad Hong, confirmed the incident, saying the insurgents attempted to attack the telecommunications mast between 8:30 p.m. and 11:50 p.m.
He said the combined efforts of the security personnel and local hunters prevented the attackers from reaching their target.
“Unfortunately for the insurgents, a lot of them were killed, though they evacuated some of the corpses. At the moment, four of their corpses were recovered,” he said.
Sa’ad Hong said no civilian was killed in Garaha during the attack, although two shops were burnt. He added that two military personnel sustained gunshot wounds, while the wounded personnel were receiving medical attention.
He, however, disclosed that the insurgents killed a civilian and burnt houses in Lar village while retreating from Garaha.
The chairman said items recovered from the insurgents included six AK-47 rifles, 11 magazines, 121 rounds of ammunition, one PKT machine gun, 57 rounds of ammunition for the weapon, 170 rounds of machine-gun ammunition, an Infinix Smart 8 handset, a night-vision device and cutlasses.
He reiterated the council’s commitment to supporting security agencies operating in the area to strengthen efforts to protect residents and prevent further attacks.
The military also confirmed the incident in a statement signed by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Maiduguri, Captain Mohammed Goni.
The statement said troops of Sector 4, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), successfully repelled a coordinated attack by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists on the Forward Operating Base in Garaha.
It said the insurgents advanced on foot from the Lar axis and launched the assault at approximately 9:07 p.m., attempting to overrun the military position.
“However, troops responded with superior firepower and tactical coordination, decisively repelling the assault and forcing the terrorists to retreat,” the statement said.
The military said subsequent operations in the surrounding area led to the discovery of six terrorist corpses, confirming the neutralisation of six insurgents.
It added that troops recovered one PKT machine gun with three ammunition belts containing 67 rounds, six AK-47 rifles, 11 AK-47 magazines, 157 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and one 60mm mortar bomb.
Other items recovered included an Infinix Android phone, a Canon portable video recorder, three camelback water bags, one magazine carrier and assorted clothing.
The statement acknowledged that troops sustained casualties during the encounter, adding that the wounded personnel were receiving medical attention and arrangements were being made for their evacuation.
It said troops had maintained heightened vigilance and continued operations in the surrounding area to prevent further attacks and recover additional items of operational significance.
Garaha, the hometown of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, is situated in the mountainous part of Hong Local Government Area.
The community has experienced previous attacks by insurgents, with its proximity to the Sambisa Forest in neighbouring Borno State often cited as a security concern.
The town was also attacked on October 1, 2026.
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