DHQ Verifies Six Soldiers Were Killed by ISWAP Terrorists During a Borno Raid

Since 2009, northern Nigeria has endured relentless violence from jihadist groups, including Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), as well as armed criminal gangs. These groups have devastated the region, claiming over 40,000 lives and displacing around two million people.

On Sunday, ISWAP fighters launched a pre-dawn assault on a military base in Sabon Gari, located in Borno State’s Damboa district. Arriving in trucks and on motorcycles, the insurgents set the base and army vehicles ablaze. “We lost six soldiers in the ISWAP terrorist attack after an intense gun battle,” an officer told AFP.

Fighter jets from Maiduguri, 100 kilometers (62 miles) away, targeted the attackers as they retreated. By Wednesday, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed the death of 34 terrorists, the recovery of 23 AK-47 rifles, and over 200 rounds of ammunition. However, six military personnel were killed, and a vigilante commander sustained injuries from an improvised explosive device during reinforcement operations.

The DHQ revealed that the attack was an attempt by ISWAP to retaliate for the recent killing of their commander and fighters by Nigerian forces. Reinforcements, including elements of the Civilian Joint Task Force, vigilantes, and hybrid forces, thwarted the surprise assault and decimated the fleeing insurgents.

The Armed Forces reiterated their commitment to defeating terrorism, emphasizing their role in ensuring national security. Despite setbacks, including previous attacks like the November raid on Kareto village near the Niger border that killed five soldiers, the military remains determined to end the insurgency.

This conflict continues to exact a heavy toll on northern Nigeria, as the nation battles to restore stability and protect its citizens.