Military repels ISWAP attack, 61 terrorists killed in Borno

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, working alongside the Nigerian Air Force, have reportedly killed at least 61 ISWAP fighters during an attempted attack in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication covering the Lake Chad region, the insurgents launched their offensive early on Wednesday.

The attackers advanced on foot and used armed drones in a bid to breach the defences at the 68 Battalion location, but were successfully repelled by the military forces.

The sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack, “which came through the frontage of Bravo Company from the Duguri general area, was met with overwhelming firepower and superior coordination between ground forces and air components”.

Makama said troops, supported by precision air strikes, engaged the insurgents in a fierce battle that resulted in heavy casualties on the side of the terrorists.

“According to him, the integration of air and ground manoeuvre ensured that the terrorists were fixed, targeted and neutralised in large numbers,” the publication reported.

Makama further reported that “four highly effective air interdiction strikes on identified enemy concentrations, decimating their fighting capability. The synergy between air and land forces denied the terrorists freedom of movement and forced a disorderly withdrawal towards the Arege general area after suffering heavy casualties”.

The sources noted that additional support from allied Nigerien air assets further increased pressure on the fleeing insurgents, although battle damage assessment from those strikes was still ongoing.

“The allied forces from neighbouring Niger Republic also conducted rapid strike passes in support of the operation, thereby compounding the pressure on the fleeing insurgents,” the report added.

“On own casualties, the officer confirmed that four soldiers sustained minor injuries during the engagement and have since been stabilised.”

On Monday night, 23 persons were killed with 108 injured, following suicide bomb attacks on three high profile locations in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

On Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu ordered security chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri.

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