Army says troops kill over 25 ISWAP fighters in Borno attack

The Nigerian Army says troops of Operation Hadin Kai have repelled a coordinated attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Kukawa, Borno State, killing more than 25 insurgents and recovering weapons and ammunition.

The Army said the fighters launched the attack against troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion from four directions but were met with strong resistance.

In a statement, the Acting Military Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, said troops, supported by the Air Component, overwhelmed the attackers and forced the surviving fighters to retreat.

“Preliminary assessment indicates that over 25 terrorists were neutralised, with 14 bodies recovered so far,” the statement said.

The military said six AK-47 rifles and other ammunition were recovered during a subsequent search of the area.

It added that operations were continuing to recover additional weapons, track fleeing fighters and prevent them from regrouping.

The Army confirmed that some soldiers were killed during the fighting but did not disclose their number.

It expressed condolences to the families of the soldiers, describing their deaths as a sacrifice in the defence of the country.

“Their courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty will remain an enduring testament to their service to the nation,” the statement said.

The Army said the outcome of the fighting demonstrated the combat readiness of troops operating in the North-East and the effectiveness of coordination between ground forces and air support.

It said troops would maintain pressure on ISWAP and other armed groups through patrols, intelligence-led operations and coordinated offensives with other security agencies.

The military also pledged to continue operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and protecting communities across the North-East.