The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the loss of six soldiers during a raid by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on a military base in Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, saw insurgents arrive on motorcycles and in gun trucks, launching a pre-dawn offensive on the military base. According to military sources, the terrorists set fire to the base and military vehicles in a bid to overwhelm the troops.
“Six soldiers were killed in action during the attack after an intense gun battle,” a military officer revealed, as quoted by AFP.
In response, fighter jets from the regional capital, Maiduguri, were deployed to strike the attackers as they retreated.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Defence Headquarters provided an update, revealing that 34 ISWAP fighters were neutralized during the encounter. Additionally, 23 AK-47 rifles, over 200 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and other weapons were recovered from the scene.
“The terrorists attempted to surprise our troops in retaliation for the recent killing of their commander and combatants. However, the timely arrival of reinforcements, including members of the Civilian Joint Taskforce and vigilante groups, helped overpower the attackers,” the statement said.
The DHQ acknowledged that the reinforcements encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which injured the Vigilante Commander but did not deter the troops from continuing their mission.
The air component of Operation HADIN KAI also conducted airstrikes on the fleeing terrorists, further decimating their ranks.
While the DHQ refrained from disclosing the identities of the six fallen soldiers to allow time for notifying their next of kin, it reiterated the Armed Forces’ commitment to ending insurgency and terrorism in the nation.
“The Armed Forces remain profoundly conscious of its role and responsibility in safeguarding the nation and are committed to defeating these terrorists,” the statement added.
The northeast region of Nigeria has been a hotspot for jihadist activities since 2009, with groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP waging a violent insurgency that has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced around two million people.
The recent attack underscores the continued threats posed by insurgents despite ongoing military operations aimed at restoring peace to the region.
