63 ISWAP Fighters Killed as Troops Repel Attack in Borno

Troops of Sector 3 under Operation Hadin Kai, with support from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), have recovered the bodies of at least 63 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters after a failed attack on a military base in Borno State.

According to military sources, the insurgents launched the assault in the early hours of Wednesday, March 17, 2026, targeting Malam Fatori in Abadam Local Government Area. The attackers reportedly advanced on foot and used armed drones in an attempt to overwhelm the 68 Battalion’s position.

The attack, said to have originated from the Duguri axis through the Bravo Company frontage, was swiftly met with strong resistance from ground troops, backed by coordinated air support.

Sources revealed that the joint response from land and air forces resulted in a decisive defeat for the insurgents, who suffered heavy losses during the confrontation.

“After the engagement and follow-up clearance operations, 63 bodies of the terrorists were recovered in and around Malam Fatori, highlighting the scale of the damage inflicted,” a military source disclosed.

The Air Component was also said to have carried out multiple precision strikes on identified enemy positions, significantly weakening their operational strength.

The coordinated effort between ground forces and air support forced the remaining fighters to retreat in disarray towards the Arege axis, marking a major setback for the insurgent group.