Army Repels Major ISWAP Attack In Borno, K!lls Over 25 Terrorists

Troops of the Nigerian Army have reportedly killed more than 25 suspected Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters after repelling a coordinated attack on a military position in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the attack was launched against troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion, with the insurgents reportedly advancing simultaneously from four different directions in an attempt to overwhelm the military position.

The Acting Military Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Mohammed Goni, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Goni said the troops mounted a strong resistance to the assault, deploying tactical manoeuvres, superior firepower and coordinated battlefield operations to push back the attackers.

He added that the troops received support from the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai during the confrontation, which helped inflict heavy casualties on the insurgents and forced surviving fighters to retreat.

According to the military, preliminary assessments indicate that more than 25 suspected terrorists were neutralised, while 14 bodies were recovered from the area following the encounter.

Troops also recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition during an exploitation operation, including six AK-47 rifles.

Goni said military personnel were continuing to search the area for additional weapons and to track fleeing insurgents in an effort to prevent them from regrouping and launching another attack.

However, the military also confirmed that some soldiers were killed during the confrontation, describing them as gallant personnel who paid the ultimate price in the course of defending the military position.

The latest encounter underscores the continued security challenges in parts of Borno State, where Nigerian troops have continued operations against insurgent groups and other armed elements.