Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 149 Battalion successfully repelled an ambush by suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) after two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeted a military escort convoy in Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the incident occurred on June 29 as soldiers escorting a convoy to Kareto encountered the first command-detonated IED at Grema Kauri village. The blast left the battalion’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel E.P. Isah, with minor injuries.
While escorting 16 empty humanitarian logistics trucks on the return journey, the convoy struck a second command-detonated IED at Gambo Kurumuri village. The explosion was immediately followed by an ambush from the insurgents, but troops responded with superior firepower, overpowered the attackers and forced them to retreat before pursuing them during a follow-up operation.
The attack claimed the life of a civilian truck driver, while another civilian sustained minor injuries. One humanitarian logistics truck was also damaged. Following the encounter, the convoy was safely handed over to troops of the 109 Special Forces Battalion in Magumeri for onward movement to Maiduguri.
Security sources said the incident highlights ISWAP’s continued use of command-detonated IEDs and coordinated ambushes against military movements and humanitarian supply routes in the North-East.
They added that troops remain committed to protecting key supply corridors and sustaining operations aimed at degrading the operational capacity of terrorist groups in the region.
