No fewer than 15 members of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) terrorist group were killed when troops of Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled a coordinated attack in Ngamdu area of Kaga local government area of Borno State yesterday.
The successful repel followed a swift response by forces on ground and reinforcement elements from the 29 Task Force Brigade.
A statement issued to journalists in Maiduguri by the media information officer, Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai North-East Operations, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, said the terrorists employed Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), armed drones, and command-initiated Improvised Explosive Devices, targeting troops and own platforms.
Uba said despite the intensity of the attack, troops held their ground and responded with superior firepower, inflicting significant losses on the terrorists.
The OPHK spokesman said unfortunately, own troops recorded four Killed in Action (KIA) and five Wounded in Action (WIA), adding that some Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and Gun Trucks (GTs) sustained varying degrees of damage during the encounter.
He said, “The terrorists attempted to prevent reinforcements and inflict further casualties by planting multiple IEDs along the Ngamdu–Damaturu Main Supply Route (MSR).
This necessitated a temporary closure of the MSR, as engineers swiftly responded to clear 3 IED-laden spots. Following successful clearance, the MSR has now been reopened to both military and civilian movement.”
The Army temporarily closed the Damaturu-Maiduguri highway following the attack.
Troops blocked the highway in the early hours of Friday as part of a security operation involving cordon-and-search tactics to track the attackers and prevent further threats in the area.
