At least 25 suspected terrorists, including a senior commander, were killed when troops of the Nigerian military foiled a midnight attack on Kukareta community in Borno State, authorities said on Thursday.

The insurgents, believed to be members of the ISWAP faction of Boko Haram, launched a coordinated assault shortly after midnight on Wednesday but were met with fierce resistance from troops.

The Theatre Commander, Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, told reporters that the military engaged the attackers in a sustained counteroffensive that lasted until about 3:00 a.m.

“The terrorists attempted to overrun the location but were decisively engaged and forced into a disorganized withdrawal,” Abubakar said.

He disclosed that a senior insurgent commander, identified as Abu Umar Bundi Munzir, was among those killed, alongside 24 other fighters.

Following the encounter, troops conducted a sweep of the area and recovered a significant cache of weapons, including 18 AK-47 rifles, three general-purpose machine guns, two PKT anti-aircraft guns, three rocket-propelled grenade tubes, and two mortar tubes, as well as ammunition and other combat materials.

The military also confirmed that one suspect was captured alive during the operation.

Abubakar added that two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds in the exchange of fire and are currently receiving treatment.

Nigeria’s northeast has remained the epicentre of a protracted insurgency for over a decade, driven by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions, particularly across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.