Troops of Nigerian Army’s Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), have reportedly killed at least 61 ISWAP terrorists during a foiled infiltration attempt in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Governent Area of Borno State.
A counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, which cited sources involved in the operation, said the terrorists launched the attack in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to the publication, the insurgents advanced on foot and deployed armed drones in a desperate attempt to breach the defences of troops at the 68 Battalion location.
Zagazola Makama sid that the attack, “which came through the frontage of Bravo Company from the Duguri general area, was met with overwhelming firepower and superior coordination between ground forces and air components”.
Makama said troops, supported by precision air strikes, engaged the insurgents in a fierce battle that resulted in heavy casualties on the side of the terrorists.
“According to him, the integration of air and ground manoeuvre ensured that the terrorists were fixed, targeted and neutralised in large numbers,” the publication reported.
Makama further reported that “four highly effective air interdiction strikes on identified enemy concentrations, decimating their fighting capability. The synergy between air and land forces denied the terrorists freedom of movement and forced a disorderly withdrawal towards the Arege general area after suffering heavy casualties”.
The sources noted that additional support from allied Nigerien air assets further increased pressure on the fleeing insurgents, although battle damage assessment from those strikes was still ongoing.
“The allied forces from neighbouring Niger Republic also conducted rapid strike passes in support of the operation, thereby compounding the pressure on the fleeing insurgents,” the report added.
“On own casualties, the officer confirmed that four soldiers sustained minor injuries during the engagement and have since been stabilised.”
On Monday night, 23 persons were killed with 108 injured, following suicide bomb attacks on three high profile locations in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
