Troops Repel ISWAP Assault On Borno Military Base, Kill Several Insurgents

Grace Adeleke

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have repelled an attempted attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province fighters on a military base in Borno State, killing several insurgents after fierce fighting that claimed the life of a soldier.

The military said the attack occurred at the Forward Operating Base in Logomani, Ngala Local Government Area, where the terrorists attempted to overrun the position.

The Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed in a statement on Saturday that the insurgents initially breached part of the base’s defensive perimeter before troops regrouped and launched a successful counter-offensive.

According to him, several terrorists were neutralised during the operation.

He, however, confirmed that one soldier was killed while two gun trucks and other combat equipment were damaged during the exchange of fire.

“Regrettably, one gallant soldier paid the supreme price, while two gun trucks and some combat enablers sustained damage during the engagement,” Goni said.

He added that reinforcements had since been deployed to the area to consolidate the troops’ position, assuring residents that the situation was under control.

“Reinforcements have been deployed, and the situation remains firmly under control,” he stated.

In a related development, troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion rescued two kidnap victims during a search-and-rescue operation in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The military said the victims had been evacuated to a secure location where they were receiving medical care and psychosocial support.

The operation also led to the recovery of N1.2 million suspected to be proceeds of criminal activities, as well as food supplies and logistics materials allegedly meant to sustain terrorist operations.

Similarly, six suspected ISWAP members, accompanied by their families, surrendered to troops of the 192 Battalion, Sector 1 of Operation Hadin Kai.

According to Goni, the suspects fled terrorist hideouts in Guduf Bubayagwa and Chikide communities in the Mandara Mountains of Gwoza Local Government Area.

Security operatives recovered N1.54 million in cash and two mobile phones from the surrendered suspects.

The military further disclosed that troops arrested several suspected logistics suppliers and other criminal elements in parts of Borno and Adamawa states, recovering weapons, ammunition, vehicles, cash and other items believed to be linked to terrorist activities.

Meanwhile, security forces in Zamfara State rescued an abducted official of the Independent National Electoral Commission during separate operations against bandits in Gummi, Talata Mafara and Gusau Local Government Areas.

The operations also led to the recovery of hundreds of rustled cattle.

The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, A.M. Bello, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustained offensives against banditry and other violent crimes, urging residents to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies.

The military said the ongoing operations formed part of intensified efforts to dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt their supply chains and restore lasting peace across the North-East and other affected parts of the country.