Banki, Borno / Bula, Yobe — Nigerian military forces under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully foiled a coordinated ISWAP assault launched on September 18, 2025, targeting resettled communities in Banki (Borno State) and Bula (Yobe State). The troops managed to shield over 10,000 households from renewed displacement.
These communities had recently been resettled after years of living in displacement camps due to insurgency. The attack was aimed at undoing hard-fought recoveries by forcing civilians back into fear and instability.
Military sources say that ground troops, reinforced by air power, executed a robust defense, inflicting heavy losses on the attackers and preventing any of the communities from being overrun. Women, children, farmers, and elderly citizens who had resumed returning to their farms were reportedly saved by the military’s swift action.
In a visit to the frontlines on September 19, Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu, Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 OPHK, commended the valor of the troops. He offered solace to affected communities and affirmed that the Army remains committed to restoring and protecting peace in conflict-affected areas under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede. One soldier was confirmed killed and others injured in the operation.
