According to a statement released by Captain Reuben Kovangiya, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations at the Headquarters Theatre Command, several terrorists were, however, killed during the intense gunfire.

The Nigerian Army has said that two soldiers were killed in the early hours of Tuesday as troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) repelled a coordinated attack by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in New Marte, Borno State.

According to a statement released by Captain Reuben Kovangiya, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations at the Headquarters Theatre Command, several terrorists were, however, killed during the intense gunfire.

Kovangiya said, “In the early hours of May 27, 2025, troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) foiled an attack by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on their location in New Marte, Borno State.

“The failed attack was repelled by a combined effort of ground forces and the Air Component of OPHK. The terrorists attempted to infiltrate the troops' location, but were met with heavy gunfire.”

He said the Air Component provided immediate Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and offensive fire support, leading to the decimation of several fleeing terrorists.

“Regrettably, two soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice during the encounter,” Kovangiya stated.

“However, troops recovered one Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) SUV abandoned by the terrorists during pursuit. Several motorcycles conveying the terrorists were also destroyed by precision air strikes.”

He explained that during the exploitation of the area, troops discovered lifeless bodies of the terrorists, with traces of blood on their withdrawal routes, indicating additional casualties inflicted on the terrorists.

Kovangiya further stated that in a related development, troops also repelled a daring attempt by terrorists to attack the Forward Operating Base at the Kumshe area of the state.

The attack comes amid a resurgence in attempts by terrorist factions to destabilise the region, even as military forces intensify operations to reclaim and secure communities.

The New Marte incident bears similarities to operations in 2024, when Nigerian forces disrupted a series of attempted incursions in Kukawa, Dikwa, and Damboa, often at a significant cost.

In January 2024, a failed Boko Haram assault on Damasak resulted in the deaths of five soldiers and over a dozen insurgents.

That same month, ISWAP fighters ambushed a convoy near Monguno, leading to multiple casualties on both sides.

Boko Haram has waged an insurgency in the North-East since 2009, claiming tens of thousands of lives and displacing over two million people across Northern Nigeria.

Despite significant territorial losses in recent years, the groups continue to launch asymmetric attacks on civilian and military targets, including ambushes, IEDs, and assaults on military bases.

Captain Kovangiya emphasised that the latest collaborative efforts of the military “demonstrates the renewed jointness and team spirit in the fight against terrorism, geared towards bringing lasting peace to enable socio-economic activities to thrive in the North-East region.”