Troops Foil ISWAP Attack, Rescue Kidnap Victims in Fresh Borno Operations

Troops Foil ISWAP Attack, Rescue Kidnap Victims in Fresh Borno Operations

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Troops of the Joint Task Force North-East under Operation Hadin Kai has repelled an attempted attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on the Logomani community in the Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State and rescued two kidnapped victims during separate operations across the region.

The latest operations, carried out in Borno and Adamawa states, also resulted in the arrest of suspected terrorist logistics suppliers and the recovery of arms, ammunition, cash and other materials believed to support insurgent activities.

According to the Acting Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, troops have maintained operational pressure on terrorist groups through sustained search-and-rescue missions, intelligence-driven operations and coordinated security efforts aimed at restricting the movement and activities of insurgents across the Northeast.

Captain Goni said troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion rescued two abducted persons during a search-and-rescue mission in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on 7 July.

He disclosed that the victims were found in a terrorist hideout, while troops recovered ₦1.2 million suspected to be proceeds of criminal activities, alongside food items and other logistics believed to have been used to sustain terrorist operations.

The rescued victims have since been moved to a secure location, where they are receiving medical attention and psychosocial support.

In another major operation, troops stationed at the Forward Operating Base in Logomani, Ngala Local Government Area, successfully repelled a coordinated assault by ISWAP fighters who attempted to overrun the military base before targeting the border community near Cameroon.

Although the attackers briefly breached part of the base’s defensive perimeter during the fierce exchange of gunfire, the troops regrouped quickly, launched a counter-attack and forced the insurgents to retreat after inflicting heavy casualties.

Captain Goni said many of the fleeing terrorists escaped with gunshot wounds.

He, however, confirmed that one soldier was killed during the battle, while two military gun trucks and some combat equipment were damaged.

He added that the base remains under the full control of Operation Hadin Kai troops, with additional reinforcements deployed and further defensive measures put in place to strengthen security around the location.

Elsewhere, troops of the 232 Battalion arrested a suspected notorious criminal during an intelligence-led operation in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Subsequent operations led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, two magazines and 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition. The suspect remains in military custody as investigations continue to uncover other members of the criminal network.

In Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State, troops of the 149 Battalion arrested two suspected suppliers of logistics to terrorist groups.

Items recovered from the suspects included cash, a Volkswagen Golf vehicle, construction materials, household supplies and other items believed to have been intended for insurgents.

The military said the suspects are being interrogated while investigations continue.

Meanwhile, troops of the 24 Task Force Brigade, working alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, carried out a clearance operation around Wulgo, a known terrorist enclave.

During the operation, troops recovered a sack containing assorted illicit drugs abandoned by fleeing insurgents, further demonstrating the sustained military pressure on terrorist groups operating within the theatre.

The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations across the northeast, stressing that ongoing intelligence-driven missions and coordinated ground operations would continue to dismantle terrorist networks and improve security in the region.