Two soldiers were killed while bravely defending a military base in Borno State after troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, successfully repelled a coordinated midnight assault by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), inflicting heavy casualties on the terrorists and forcing them to retreat.
The attack occurred at about 11:25 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, when the insurgents launched a fierce offensive against the Forward Operating Base in Mairari, Guzamala Local Government Area.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, said troops of CIB XIX responded with exceptional courage and professionalism, engaging the terrorists in a fierce exchange of gunfire that ultimately forced them to flee after suffering significant losses.
“The troops responded with exceptional gallantry, engaging the terrorists in a fierce gun battle that compelled them to withdraw in disarray after suffering heavy losses,” Goni said.
According to him, the fleeing insurgents abandoned several weapons and combat equipment, including AK-47 rifles, loaded magazines and Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tubes, which were recovered by the troops.
He added that surveillance footage confirmed the terrorists evacuated several of their dead and wounded fighters from the battlefield following the failed assault.
The military said the attack appeared to be a desperate attempt to disrupt the ongoing resettlement of the Mairari community, where more than 950 households had recently returned to their homes, and to spread fear among residents.
Despite the intensity of the attack, the troops successfully secured the base, preventing the terrorists from breaching the facility or harming civilians.
However, the operation came at a cost.
The military confirmed that two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) lost their lives during the gun battle, while a few pieces of military equipment were damaged by Rocket Propelled Grenade fire.
The Theatre Command expressed condolences to the families of the fallen personnel, describing them as gallant heroes who paid the supreme sacrifice in defence of the nation.
In a related operation, Captain Goni disclosed that a reinforcement team deployed from Monguno detected and safely detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along the route before engaging the fleeing terrorists.
He said the swift intervention further disrupted the insurgents’ escape and inflicted additional casualties on them.
The military maintained that the successful defence of the Forward Operating Base demonstrated the operational readiness, resilience and combat effectiveness of troops of Operation Hadin Kai.
Despite the terrorists’ determined attempt to overrun the military position, the troops retained full control of the base and continued offensive operations across the area.
Commending the courage and fighting spirit of the troops, the Theatre Command reiterated its commitment to sustaining military operations aimed at defeating terrorism and restoring lasting peace, security and stability across Nigeria’s North-East.
