Army Says Troops Kill Over 25 ISWAP Fighters in Borno Attack

Nigerian Army troops have killed more than 25 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters during a coordinated attack on troops in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, the military said.

The terrorists reportedly launched a multi-directional assault on the 101 Special Forces Battalion from four different flanks, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by Mohammed Goni, acting military information officer at the headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai.

The Army said its troops responded with superior firepower, tactical manoeuvres and battlefield coordination. The operation was also supported by the Air Component, which helped the troops repel the attackers and force surviving ISWAP fighters to flee.

According to the military, preliminary assessment indicated that more than 25 terrorists were neutralised, with 14 bodies recovered from the area. Troops also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition during subsequent operations.

The recovered weapons reportedly included six AK-47 rifles. The Army said troops were continuing to search the area for additional weapons and were tracking fleeing terrorists to prevent them from regrouping.

The military also disclosed that some soldiers were killed during the encounter. It did not provide the number of military personnel who died in the attack in the statement.

Goni expressed condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and praised their service and sacrifice. He said their commitment to duty would remain remembered as part of their service to the country.
The Army said further operations were ongoing in the area following the attack, with troops continuing efforts to recover weapons, track fleeing terrorists and prevent another assault.