25 terrorists killed in foiled attack in northeast Nigeria, claims military

At least 25 terrorists, including a senior commander, have been killed following a failed attack on a community in northeast Nigeria, military authorities said Thursday.

According to Nigeria’s military, the terrorists linked to the Boko Haram faction, known as ISWAP, launched a coordinated assault on Kukareta in Borno State shortly after midnight on Wednesday but were repelled by troops.

Theater Commander Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar told reporters on Thursday that troops engaged the insurgents in a sustained counteroffensive that lasted until about 3.00 am local time.

He confirmed that a top commander, identified as Abu Umar Bundi Munzir, was among those killed, along with 24 others.

“The terrorists attempted to overrun the location but were decisively engaged and forced into a disorganized withdrawal,” Abubakar said.

Troops later conducted a sweep of the area, recovering a cache of weapons, including 18 AK-47 rifles, three general-purpose machine guns, two PKT anti-aircraft guns, three rocket-propelled grenade tubes, and two mortar tubes. Ammunition and other combat materials were also seized.

The military said one terrorist was captured alive during the operation, adding that two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds and are receiving treatment.

Nigeria has faced a prolonged insurgency in its northeast for over a decade, largely driven by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and its splinter faction, ISWAP. The conflict has led to tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions, particularly in states like Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe.