Several soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) have been killed during intense gun battles with Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters who launched coordinated attacks on military positions in Borno State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Nigerian Army confirmed that the attacks targeted Mandaragirau and Pulka communities late Saturday, but were successfully repelled by troops under the Joint Task Force North-East, supported by air assets and local security operatives.
In a statement issued on Monday, Sani Uba, Media Information Officer at the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East), said the terrorists mounted a multi-directional assault on Sector 2 positions in Mandaragirau, deploying gun trucks and motorcycles in a bid to overrun the location.
According to him, troops had anticipated the movement following actionable intelligence and tactically positioned combat teams to counter the offensive. The ensuing firefight lasted several hours, with troops inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers.
“Troops had tactically emplaced combat teams that decisively engaged the terrorists. Interestingly, the attack was successfully thwarted after a fierce exchange without any breach to the defence of the location,” Uba said.
He added that although the terrorists were eventually repelled, some soldiers and CJTF members lost their lives in the line of duty, while several troops sustained injuries and were immediately evacuated for medical treatment by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai and Nigerian Army aviation platforms.
“Regrettably, some gallant personnel and Civilian Joint Task Force members paid the supreme price in the defence of their location, while few soldiers sustained injuries and were immediately evacuated,” he said.
In a separate but simultaneous assault on Sector 1 positions in Pulka, a large group of Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters reportedly advanced from the Sambisa Forest axis in an attempt to breach military defences. However, troops successfully overpowered the insurgents, forcing them to retreat in disarray back into the forest.
Uba disclosed that no military casualties were recorded during the Pulka encounter, adding that intelligence reports confirmed severe losses on the side of the terrorists, including the death of a top commander identified as Abou Aisha.
Military authorities described the failed attacks as a reflection of the increasing desperation of insurgent groups under sustained pressure from Operation Hadin Kai.
The high command commended the courage, resilience, and professionalism of the troops, while reaffirming the Armed Forces’ commitment to sustaining aggressive operations to dismantle terrorist networks and restore lasting peace in the North-East.
Residents in the affected areas were urged to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to aid ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
