Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 101 Special Forces Battalion in Kukawa, Borno State, have repelled a major attack by Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorists on their military base.
The attack occurred between 9:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday when the terrorists launched a coordinated assault on the military position from four different directions.
According to security sources who spoke to Zagazola Makama, as counter-insurgency and security expert in Lake Chad region, the troops, supported by the Air Component, engaged the attackers in a prolonged gun battle before successfully repelling the assault.
More than 25 terrorists were reportedly neutralised during the encounter, while troops recovered 14 bodies from the battlefield.
The sources also said troops recovered a cache of arms and ammunition abandoned by the fleeing terrorists, including six AK-47 rifles.
However, the military also suffered casualties, with some soldiers reportedly killed while others sustained injuries during the engagement.
Following the attack, the Brigade Commander visited the area to coordinate the repositioning of troops, replenishment of personnel and equipment, and further exploitation of the battlefield.
The operation comes amid continued efforts by the Nigerian military to prevent terrorist groups from gaining ground in Kukawa and other parts of the Lake Chad region.
Further details on the casualties and recovered weapons are expected as the military concludes its assessment of the incident.
Troops eliminate over 25 terrorists, repel ISWAP attack on military base