Army repels ISWAP attack in Borno, kills 25 terrorists

Some of the suspects killed by the Nigerian Army Photo: Nigerian Army

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have repelled a coordinated attack by Islamic State West Africa Province yyterrorists in Kukawa, Borno State, killing more than 25 terrorists and recovering arms and ammunition.

The terrorists launched the attack on troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion from four different directions, but the soldiers responded with superior firepower, tactical manoeuvres and effective battlefield coordination.

In a statement on the Nigerian Army’s X handle on Wednesday, the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, the troops, supported by the Air Component, overwhelmed the attackers and forced surviving terrorists to flee.

“Preliminary assessment indicates that over 25 terrorists were neutralised, with 14 bodies recovered so far,” Goni said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

During an exploitation of the area after the encounter, troops recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition, including six AK-47 rifles.

The military said further operations were underway to recover additional weapons, track the fleeing terrorists and prevent them from regrouping.

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However, some soldiers were killed during the encounter.

The Nigerian Army expressed condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, praising their courage, sacrifice and commitment to duty.

The Army said the successful repulsion of the attack demonstrated the combat readiness and resilience of troops operating in the North-East Theatre.

It also said the operation highlighted the effectiveness of air-ground coordination and joint operations in disrupting terrorist activities and restricting their freedom of action.

The Nigerian Army said it would continue to sustain operational pressure on terrorists and other criminal elements through aggressive patrols, intelligence-led operations and coordinated offensives with other security agencies.

The military said the operations are aimed at dismantling terrorist networks, protecting communities and safeguarding the nation.