The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has once again unleashed devastation in Nigeria’s northeast, executing a brutal incursion on a military installation in Borno State. According to reports from credible military sources, the assault, occurring in the early hours of Sunday, led to the tragic loss of six soldiers. The terrorists, heavily armed and using both trucks and motorcycles, targeted the Sabon Gari base in the Damboa district, setting it ablaze along with multiple army vehicles.
Eyewitness accounts from military personnel reveal the scale of the firefight, which saw intense clashes between the insurgents and troops stationed at the base. “We lost six brave soldiers during the ISWAP attack after an intense gun battle,” one officer disclosed. The carnage left behind speaks to the ferocity of the raid, with ISWAP’s actions leaving a trail of destruction and despair.
As the attackers retreated, the Nigerian military initiated a counterstrike. Fighter jets were swiftly dispatched from Maiduguri, located approximately 100 kilometers away. These aerial assaults inflicted significant damage, reportedly neutralizing several insurgents, destroying operational vehicles, and dismantling their weapon systems. However, exact figures on ISWAP casualties remain undisclosed, as stated by another officer involved in the operation.
Major General Edward Buba, spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters, confirmed the assault but refrained from providing precise casualty numbers. “Troops encountered operational setbacks in the area. An investigation has been launched to ascertain the exact circumstances of the incident, and further details will be shared in due time,” he remarked during a media briefing.
This latest assault underscores the unrelenting violence wrought by jihadist factions like ISWAP and Boko Haram, whose reign of terror in northern Nigeria has spanned over a decade. Since 2009, these extremist groups have claimed the lives of more than 40,000 individuals and displaced over two million people, leaving an indelible scar on the region.
In November, a similar attack by ISWAP fighters in Kareto village, near the Niger border, resulted in the deaths of five soldiers and injuries to ten others. These incidents highlight the urgent need for heightened vigilance and enhanced military strategies to curb the escalating threats posed by insurgents.
The Nigerian government and military continue to grapple with the complexity of this prolonged conflict, seeking solutions to restore peace and stability to a region long besieged by terror. As inquiries into this latest attack proceed, the sacrifices of the fallen soldiers stand as a solemn reminder of the ongoing battle against insurgency.
AFP
