TROOPS of Operation Hadin Kai have repelled a deadly attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Mairari, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, killing several insurgents but losing two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) during the fierce battle.
News Point Nigeria reports that the spokesman for Operation Hadin Kai, Mohammed Goni, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Thursday, saying the terrorists launched the assault on Wednesday night in what appeared to be an attempt to overrun the military base and disrupt the resettlement of civilians in the community.
According to Goni, the troops responded with exceptional gallantry, engaging the attackers in an intense firefight that forced them to retreat in confusion after suffering heavy casualties.
“The troops responded with exceptional gallantry, engaging the attackers in a fierce firefight and forcing them to withdraw in confusion after inflicting heavy casualties on the terrorists and destroying their equipment,” he said.
He disclosed that troops recovered AK-47 rifles, loaded magazines, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tubes and other military equipment abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.
Goni added that surveillance footage later confirmed that the insurgents evacuated several of their dead and wounded from the battlefield following the failed assault.
He noted that Mairari village had only recently been resettled, with more than 950 households returning to the community as part of ongoing government resettlement efforts.
According to him, the attack was a desperate attempt by the terrorists to instil fear among residents and derail the resettlement programme.
“The attack was also a desperate attempt by the terrorists to instill fear among the residents and disrupt the ongoing resettlement process,” he said.
Despite the intensity of the attack, Goni said the terrorists failed to achieve their objective, stressing that no civilian casualty was recorded during the encounter.
However, he confirmed that two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force paid the supreme price while defending the military base.
“Two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) paid the supreme price during the intense encounter,” he stated.
He also revealed that some military equipment was damaged after being hit by rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire during the exchange.
The Nigerian Army mourned the fallen personnel and extended its heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones.
Goni further disclosed that, in a related development, a reinforcement team deployed from Monguno detected and safely detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along the route before making contact with the fleeing terrorists.
According to him, the swift intervention further disrupted the insurgents’ withdrawal and inflicted additional casualties on them.
“The swift intervention further disrupted the insurgents’ withdrawal and inflicted additional casualties on them. Despite the terrorists’ desperate attempt to overrun the location, the troops maintained full control of the base and continue to dominate the operational environment through sustained offensive operations,” Goni added.