Airstrikes Deal Heavy Blow to Terrorists as 50 Boko Haram, ISWAP Fighters Killed in Borno Border Battle

Airstrikes Deal Heavy Blow to Terrorists as 50 Boko Haram, ISWAP Fighters Killed in Borno Border Battle

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

The air component of the Northeast Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai has killed more than 50 terrorists belonging to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province in Ngoshe, following multiple precision airstrikes that targeted insurgents fleeing a failed attack on a Nigerian Army position.

Security sources in Maiduguri disclosed on Thursday that the insurgents had launched a coordinated evening assault on Nigerian Army artillery positions in Ngoshe at about 7:30 p.m. on March 3.

The border community, located about 12 kilometres south of Pulka, has been repeatedly attacked by insurgents between 2013 and 2024, forcing many residents to seek refuge across the border in Cameroon for over a decade.

According to a military officer who spoke on condition of anonymity, the insurgents attempted to overrun the artillery position through a surprise assault.

“The terrorists tried to seize the artillery location during the evening attack,” the officer said.

The counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama reported that troops on the ground carried out what the military described as a “tactical withdrawal under intense fire” to protect personnel and equipment while reinforcements were mobilised to secure Ngoshe and nearby border communities.

Sources said the attackers employed a hit-and-withdraw tactic, retreating from the scene before reinforcement troops could fully secure the area.

However, surveillance aircraft tracked the fleeing fighters along identified escape corridors leading toward the Mandara Mountains and the notorious Sambisa Forest.

“Upon receiving real-time intelligence from ground forces, air assets were deployed to engage the terrorists along their escape routes,” the officer said.

According to the source, the insurgents were seen moving in clusters at two different locations, prompting the deployment of precision strikes.

“Precision strikes were carried out on confirmed target clusters and movement trails. Battle damage assessment indicates that more than 50 terrorists were killed in two separate strike runs,” he added.

The coordinated ground-air response under Operation Hadin Kai lasted for about an hour, significantly disrupting the insurgents’ logistics and mobility along the Ngoshe–Pulka axis.

Military sources confirmed that clearance and area-domination operations are currently underway to prevent surviving fighters from regrouping.

The Ngoshe–Gwoza axis has remained volatile in recent years due to sporadic activities of Boko Haram and ISWAP remnants who often exploit the rugged terrain and cross-border forest zones.

The military, however, reaffirmed its resolve to sustain pressure on the insurgents.

“Operation Hadin Kai remains committed to sustaining offensive pressure. The message is clear: any attempt to attack our positions will be met with overwhelming and coordinated firepower,” the officer said.

He also reassured residents of Gwoza and surrounding communities of the military’s continued commitment to protecting lives, supporting resettlement efforts and consolidating gains recorded in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign in Borno State.