A senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), identified as Abou Aisha, has been killed during a failed terrorist assault on troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Pulka, Borno State.
Military sources disclosed that insurgents advancing from the Sambisa forest axis launched coordinated night attacks on Pulka and Mandaragirau on February 14, 2026. Troops reportedly held their positions, inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers, and forced them to retreat.
In Pulka, Abou Aisha was said to have sustained fatal gunshot wounds during the exchange of fire. Subsequent clearance and exploitation operations conducted along the Kimba axis uncovered blood trails, shallow graves, and abandoned equipment, indicating significant losses among the insurgents.
While no fatalities were recorded among troops in Pulka, some soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) lost their lives in Mandaragirau following a multi-pronged attack by ISWAP fighters, which was ultimately repelled.
Operation HADIN KAI confirmed that clearance and exploitation operations are ongoing across the theatre, as military pressure intensifies against terrorist networks operating in the North-East.
