At least eight Nigerian soldiers were killed when terrorists affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched a coordinated attack on the 101 Special Forces Battalion in Kukawa, Borno State, military sources have told Chronicles Reporters.
The attack occurred on Tuesday evening, October 6, 2026, in Kukawa, an area along the strategic Lake Chad axis of northern Borno State that has remained vulnerable to attacks by insurgents.
The Nigerian Army, in a statement issued on Wednesday, confirmed that troops of Operation HADIN KAI came under a coordinated assault by ISWAP terrorists at the military formation.
Although the Army confirmed that some soldiers were killed during the attack, it did not disclose the number of casualties.
However, military sources told Chronicles Reporters that eight soldiers were killed during the prolonged gun battle.
âEight soldiers were killed in an attack on a military base, 101 SF BN, Kukawa town in North-East Borno State. The incident occurred on 6/10/26 in the evening. Our men also killed ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorists in return,â one of the military sources said.
Another military source said the terrorists stormed the military base using gun trucks and motorcycles, triggering a prolonged exchange of gunfire with troops stationed at the facility.
According to the source, the attackers initially overwhelmed the soldiers and temporarily took control of parts of the base before reinforcements and air support were deployed to assist the troops.
The terrorists were also said to have set some military gun trucks and logistics vehicles ablaze during the attack, causing further damage to the military formation.
The situation reportedly changed after additional troops arrived and the Nigerian Air Force provided aerial support. The intervention enabled the soldiers to regain control of the base and launch counter-attacks against the insurgents.
The Army said more than 25 terrorists were neutralised during the counter-operation, although 14 bodies had been recovered at the time of its statement.
âPreliminary assessment indicates that over 25 terrorists were neutralised, with 14 bodies recovered so far,â the Army said.
Six AK-47 rifles were also recovered from the terrorists, according to the military.
The Army described the incident as a coordinated four-pronged assault by ISWAP fighters on the 101 Special Forces Battalion.
It said troops of Operation HADIN KAI, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, successfully repelled the attack and prevented the terrorists from retaining control of the military position.
The Army, however, did not disclose the exact number of soldiers killed, stating only that some troops âpaid the supreme sacrifice.â
It expressed condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting communities in the North-East.
The casualty figure provided by the military sources therefore gives the first indication of the number of soldiers killed during the assault.
The attack reportedly began in the evening when the insurgents approached the military position in a coordinated operation involving gun trucks and motorcycles.
The attackers engaged the troops in intense gunfire, reportedly putting the soldiers under heavy pressure and forcing the military to request additional ground forces and aerial intervention.
The terrorists subsequently withdrew after the arrival of reinforcements and air support, while troops launched counter-attacks against the fleeing insurgents.
One of the military sources said the terrorists suffered significant casualties during the counter-operation.
The Army’s statement said more than 25 terrorists were neutralised, with 14 bodies recovered and six AK-47 rifles seized.
However, the military has not publicly confirmed whether the eight soldiers reported killed by the military sources represents the final casualty figure from the attack.
The 101 Special Forces Battalion is positioned along the strategic Lake Chad axis and forms part of the Nigerian military’s efforts to prevent ISWAP fighters from expanding their operations from the Lake Chad region into communities across Borno State.
The latest assault has raised fresh concerns over the ability of insurgents to launch coordinated attacks against military formations in the North-East and temporarily overwhelm troops stationed at strategic bases.
The attack also underscores the continuing threat posed by ISWAP in northern Borno and the wider Lake Chad region, where military formations and civilian communities have repeatedly come under attack despite ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
The incident leaves questions over the security of military positions along the Lake Chad axis, particularly the vulnerability of troops and equipment to coordinated assaults involving gun trucks, motorcycles and large numbers of insurgents.