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 directions.
According to security sources who spoke to counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, 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, 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 reportedly suffered casualties, with some soldiers killed and others sustaining injuries during the encounter.
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 military efforts 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.
