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Boko Haram/ISWAP Attack in Borno, See the Numbers of Soldiers and Terrorists Killed

Published by Tope Fakinlede on November 20th, 2024.

Boko Haram/ISWAP Attack in Borno, See the Numbers of Soldiers and Terrorists Killed

Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents have launched a deadly surprise attack on Nigerian military troops conducting stabilization operations in the Gubio Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State, resulting in the deaths of five soldiers. According to a statement from the Defence Headquarters, the assault also left ten soldiers injured and four missing.

Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, confirmed that the troops managed to eliminate numerous terrorists in retaliation, recovering several weapons in the process. The attack led to the destruction of key military assets, including a gun truck, three tactical combat vehicles (TCVs), and an excavator.

In response to the assault, a reinforcement team, supported by air units, was quickly dispatched to pursue the fleeing insurgents. A military source shared further details, revealing that the attackers launched multiple offensives aimed at overwhelming a special forces unit stationed in the Kareto community. The first wave of attacks occurred on August 16, which led to the deaths of 18 soldiers, while six insurgents were neutralized. A follow-up assault saw the death of five more soldiers, but resulted in the elimination of over 30 terrorists without additional casualties on the military side.

The special forces, who had recently arrived in the area, were in the process of setting up defenses, such as trench digging, to prepare for the return of displaced villagers when the insurgents struck. The recent escalation of violence in the Lake Chad region is part of a broader uptick in insurgent activity, despite earlier successes by the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

In a separate attack last month, 40 soldiers were killed at a military base, which led to an operation ordered by Chadian President Mahamat Déby Itno, who successfully neutralized a significant number of terrorists and forced the remaining fighters to retreat into neighboring Niger Republic.

The Borno State Government has expressed condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, with Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, describing the attack as a brutal reminder of Boko Haram’s ongoing cruelty. The government has reaffirmed its support for the armed forces in their fight to eliminate insurgency from the region.