Military Foils ISWAP Attack, Eliminates Dozens, Recovers Weapons in Borno
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, have repelled a multi-front attack by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province, inflicting heavy casualties on the insurgents during a coordinated ground and air operation in Borno State.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mandaragirau in Sector 2, was decisively thwarted following what military authorities described as a “well-coordinated ambush and deliberate offensive-defensive response” by troops.
According to a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the terrorists were forced into a disorderly retreat under sustained firepower from ground forces, supported by close air support from the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI.
“The Air Component provided real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance feedback, enabling precise and targeted kinetic responses,” the statement noted.
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Military sources confirmed that follow-up exploitation operations along the terrorists’ withdrawal routes resulted in additional losses. About 38 insurgents were neutralised, with eight bodies recovered at the immediate scene of the engagement. Human intelligence sources from local communities further indicated that over 30 additional bodies, along with weapons, were scattered along the Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis extending into the notorious Timbuktu Triangle.
Evidence of the scale of the losses included visible blood trails and abandoned equipment along the escape routes.
Recovered items from the scene include seven AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, four rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) bombs, and assorted ammunition.
Despite the intensity of the attack, troops recorded no fatalities. However, one Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle was struck by RPG fire, leaving some personnel injured. The wounded were promptly stabilised, according to the military.
The successful defence and subsequent offensive have reportedly sparked celebrations among residents in nearby communities, reflecting growing confidence in the military’s sustained operations against insurgent elements.
Operation HADIN KAI noted that exploitation efforts are ongoing in the affected axis to recover additional bodies and consolidate operational gains, as troops intensify pressure on fleeing террорист elements in the region.
By PRNigeria
