At least eight Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters were killed after troops of Operation Hadin Kai repelled a coordinated attack on a Forward Operating Base in Mandaragirau, Borno State.
The incident happened in the early hours of Saturday when the insurgents advanced towards the base from different directions in an apparent attempt to overrun it.
According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, the troops had already taken position before the attack and were ready to respond.
A military source told Makama that the soldiers engaged the attackers with superior firepower, forcing them to withdraw.
“The troops demonstrated resilience and tactical superiority, effectively repelling the assault and immediately launching a counter-exploitation along the terrorists’ withdrawal route, inflicting further casualties on the fleeing insurgents,” the source said.
He confirmed that no Nigerian military personnel was killed during the encounter, although a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.
The source added that troops recovered weapons from the scene, including seven AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, four RPG bombs and a cache of ammunition.
“Blood trails were observed along the withdrawal routes, indicating that several other insurgents escaped with gunshot wounds,” he said.
It was also gathered that injured soldiers are currently receiving treatment at a military medical facility in Biu.
Further reports showed that more bodies of fleeing insurgents were seen along their escape routes towards the Timbuktu Triangle, a known hideout.
“We saw four more bodies,” sources said.
Military sources also said abandoned weapons and bodies were found in Garin Mallum and Garin Gajere, indicating that the attackers suffered heavy losses during the failed operation.
The military leadership has, however, urged troops to sustain the tempo of operations, maintain control of the area and build on the gains recorded in the ongoing fight against insurgency in Borno State.