Army repels ISWAP attack in Borno, kills 25 terrorists

Troops of the Nigerian Army's Operation Hadin Kai have repelled a coordinated attack by Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists in Kukawa, Borno State, with the military reporting that more than 25 insurgents were neutralised.

The attack was launched from four different directions against troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion. The soldiers responded with superior firepower, tactical manoeuvres and coordinated battlefield operations, supported by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai.

According to the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, the troops 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 a subsequent exploitation of the area, 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 fleeing terrorists and prevent them from regrouping.

The encounter was not without losses for the military, as some soldiers were killed during the fighting. The Nigerian Army expressed condolences to the families of the fallen personnel and praised their courage and sacrifice.

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 highlighted the importance of coordination between ground troops and air assets in disrupting terrorist operations.

The military said it would maintain pressure on terrorist groups and other criminal elements through aggressive patrols, intelligence-led operations and coordinated offensives with other security agencies.

The latest confrontation comes amid continued military operations against ISWAP and other insurgent groups in Borno. Earlier in September, troops supported by the Nigerian Air Force and Civilian Joint Task Force also repelled an ISWAP attack on a military location in Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area, forcing the attackers to withdraw.

The Army said operations following the latest Kukawa engagement would continue as troops work to prevent the fleeing insurgents from regrouping and launching further attacks.