Nigerian Troops Repel ISWAP Attack in Borno, Neutralize 38 Insurgents

Nigerian troops repelled an attack by Islamic State West Africa Province fighters on a military base in Mandaragirau village, Borno State, early Saturday, neutralizing 38 insurgents in a coordinated operation that involved ground forces and air support.

The assault targeted the Forward Operating Base in Sector 2, located in Biu Local Government Area. According to a statement from Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, media information officer for Operation Hadin Kai, the joint task force engaged the attackers using ambushes and an offensive-defensive strategy. This response forced the militants into a chaotic retreat, with the air component providing close support, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to guide strikes.

Exploitation of the withdrawal routes along the Garin Mallum-Garin Gajere axis, leading into the Timbuktu Triangle, resulted in additional losses for the group. Troops recovered eight bodies at the site, while local human intelligence reports and evidence such as blood trails and abandoned equipment confirmed more than 30 additional fatalities. Among the items seized were seven AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, four rocket-propelled grenade bombs, and assorted...