Nigerian troops kill 12 terrorists in Borno border assault on military base
Synopsis
Nigerian troops repelled a militant assault on a military base in Kirawa, Borno, killing 12 suspected terrorists near the Cameroon border — the latest in a string of counter-terrorism successes that also saw 175 IS fighters eliminated, including the group's reported global second-in-command, in a Nigeria-US joint operation disclosed just days earlier.
Key Takeaways
12 suspected terrorists were killed by Nigerian troops after an assault on a military facility in Kirawa, Borno on Friday, 23 May 2025 .
Troops of the 153 Task Force Battalion repelled the attack; several militants fled toward the Cameroon border with possible gunshot wounds.
Recovered weapons included AK-47 rifles , rocket-propelled grenade launchers , and a machine gun .
On 19 May , the military announced 175 IS fighters and commanders killed in joint Nigeria-US air and ground strikes in northeastern Nigeria.
Abu-Bilal al-Minuki , described as the Islamic State's global second-in-command , was among those killed in the earlier operations.
The strikes were conducted under a newly established Nigeria-US counter-terrorism and intelligence-sharing partnership .
Nigerian army troops killed at least 12 suspected terrorists on Friday after militants attempted to storm a military facility in Kirawa town, a border settlement in the northeastern state of Borno along the Nigeria-Cameroon frontier. The army confirmed the repelled assault in an official statement on Saturday, 24 May.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to Nigerian Army spokesperson Sani Uba, the suspected terrorists tried to infiltrate a military position in Kirawa in the early hours of Friday but were met with heavy resistance from troops of the 153 Task Force Battalion and allied forces. Soldiers responded with sustained fire, forcing the attackers to retreat toward the Cameroon border area. The military said several of the assailants escaped with possible gunshot wounds.
Troops recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition from the scene, including AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and a machine gun, according to the statement.
Wider Counter-Terrorism Operations
The Kirawa engagement follows a broader military offensive disclosed on 19 May, when the Nigerian military announced that 175 Islamic State (IS) fighters and commanders had been killed in coordinated air and ground strikes conducted jointly with United States forces in northeastern Nigeria. Military spokesman Samaila Uba described the operations as having delivered a major blow to the group's operational capacity, destroying IS checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs, military equipment, and financial networks.
Among those killed in the earlier strikes was Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by the military as the Islamic State's second-in-command globally. According to the military, al-Minuki played a central role in IS external operations, including terrorist financing, recruitment, logistics, and attack planning against civilians. His elimination is expected to severely disrupt the group's command structure and external attack networks, the military said.
High-Profile Commanders Eliminated
The military identified additional senior figures killed during the operations. These include Abd-al Wahhab, described as a senior leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) responsible for coordinating attacks and propaganda; Abu Musa al-Mangawi, another senior ISWAP member; and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, identified as a senior media production operative for the group.
Nigeria-US Counter-Terrorism Partnership
The recent operations were conducted under a newly established counter-terrorism and intelligence-sharing partnership between Nigeria and the United States, aimed at dismantling terrorist networks operating across the Lake Chad basin region. The military said joint operations would continue with the objective of eliminating all terrorist networks threatening national and regional security. This comes amid sustained pressure on ISWAP in northeastern Nigeria, a theatre that has seen recurring militant activity for over a decade.
Point of View
If verified independently, would mark a genuine strategic setback for the network. However, Nigeria's military has historically been cautious about independent verification of such claims. The Nigeria-US intelligence-sharing framework is the more durable development: it institutionalises a counter-terrorism architecture that could outlast any single operation. The real test is whether dismantling ISWAP's command layer translates into reduced civilian casualties in Borno — a metric the military has not addressed.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Kirawa military base attack in Borno?
Suspected terrorists attempted to infiltrate a Nigerian military position in Kirawa town, Borno, along the Nigeria-Cameroon border on Friday, 23 May 2025. Troops of the 153 Task Force Battalion repelled the assault, killing 12 militants and recovering weapons including AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and a machine gun.
Who is Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and why does his death matter?
Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was described by the Nigerian military as the Islamic State's second-in-command globally. He reportedly coordinated IS external operations including terrorist financing, recruitment, logistics, and attack planning. His elimination is expected, according to the military, to severely disrupt the group's command structure and international networks.
What were the results of the Nigeria-US joint counter-terrorism operations announced on 19 May?
The Nigerian military announced on 19 May that 175 Islamic State fighters and commanders were killed in coordinated air and ground strikes conducted jointly with US forces in northeastern Nigeria. The strikes also destroyed IS checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs, and financial networks.
What is the Nigeria-US counter-terrorism partnership?
It is a recently established bilateral framework for counter-terrorism cooperation and intelligence sharing between Nigeria and the United States, aimed at dismantling terrorist networks operating in northeastern Nigeria and the broader Lake Chad basin region. The Kirawa and 19 May operations were both conducted under this partnership.
Which other Islamic State commanders were killed in the recent Nigerian operations?
Beyond Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the military identified Abd-al Wahhab, a senior ISWAP leader responsible for attack coordination and propaganda; Abu Musa al-Mangawi, another senior ISWAP member; and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, a senior IS media production operative, as among those killed.
