Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, have repelled a coordinated attack by suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Mairari, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, killing several insurgents and recovering arms and ammunition.
The military disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni.
According to the statement, the terrorists launched the assault at about 11:25 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, but encountered fierce resistance from troops of CIB XIX stationed at the base.
The ensuing gun battle forced the insurgents to retreat after suffering heavy casualties, while troops recovered several weapons, including AK-47 rifles, loaded magazines, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tubes and other military equipment.
The military said surveillance footage obtained after the operation confirmed that the fleeing insurgents evacuated several of their dead and wounded fighters from the battlefield.
It noted that the attack appeared to be an attempt to disrupt the ongoing resettlement of internally displaced persons in Mairari, where more than 950 households had recently returned to rebuild their communities.
The statement, however, said the terrorists failed to achieve their objective, adding that no civilian casualties were recorded during the attack.
Despite the successful defence of the base, the military confirmed that two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) lost their lives during the operation. It also disclosed that some military equipment was damaged by RPG fire.
“The Theatre Command mourns these gallant heroes and extends its heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones,” the statement said.
In a related development, the military said a reinforcement team deployed from Monguno discovered and safely detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along the route by the fleeing insurgents before engaging them.
According to the statement, the reinforcement operation further disrupted the terrorists’ escape and inflicted additional casualties on the retreating fighters.
The Theatre Command described the successful defence of the Mairari base as a demonstration of the operational readiness, resilience and combat effectiveness of troops under Operation HADIN KAI.
It stressed that despite the attempted attack, troops retained full control of the Forward Operating Base and continued to dominate the operational environment through sustained offensive operations.
The command also commended the courage and professionalism of the troops, reaffirming its commitment to defeating terrorism and restoring lasting peace, security and stability across Nigeria’s North-East region.
