Troops foil ISWAP attack, rescue kidnapped victims in Borno

Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai have foiled a coordinated attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on a military base and rescued two kidnapped victims in separate operations in Borno State.

According to a statement signed by the Acting Military Information Officer, Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, and released on Tuesday, July 8, the troops recorded “multiple operational gains” between July 7 and 8.

Goni said troops of 115 Task Force Battalion, while conducting Search and Rescue operations in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on July 7, rescued two additional abductees from a terrorist hideout.

He stated that the troops also recovered N1.2 million in cash suspected to be proceeds of criminal activities, as well as food items and other logistics believed to have supported terrorist operations.

“The rescued victims have since been evacuated to a secure location where they are receiving appropriate medical care and psychosocial support,” the statement said.

In Ngala Local Government Area, troops deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Logomani under Sector One successfully contained a coordinated attack by ISWAP terrorists.

“Although the insurgents briefly exploited a section of the base’s defensive perimeter during the intense firefight, the troops rapidly regrouped, mounted a determined counter-offensive and decisively expelled the attackers, inflicting significant casualties and forcing the surviving terrorists to flee with varying degrees of gunshot wounds,” Goni said.

He added that one soldier was killed during the engagement, while two gun trucks and some combat enablers sustained damage.

“The situation at FOB Logomani remains firmly under the control of Operation Hadin Kai troops, with reinforcements deployed, exploitation operations ongoing and additional measures being implemented to further strengthen the defensive resilience of the location,” he added.

The statement further disclosed other operational successes, including the arrest of a suspected criminal in Gombi LGA of Adamawa State by troops of 232 Battalion, with the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, two magazines and 28 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

In Mobbar LGA of Borno State, troops of 149 Battalion arrested two suspected terrorist logistics suppliers and recovered cash, a Volkswagen Golf vehicle, construction materials and other supplies.

Troops of 24 Task Force Brigade, in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force, also recovered a sack of illicit drugs during a clearance operation around Wulgo.

Goni said six suspected ISWAP terrorists and their families also surrendered to troops of 192 Battalion in Sector 1, with N1,541,500.00 and two Tecno mobile phones recovered.

He assured that Search and Rescue operations would continue “with unwavering resolve until every abducted person is accounted for and safely reunited with their families.”

The Theatre Command also warned individuals supplying logistics to terrorist groups to desist, saying anyone found aiding terrorists “will be identified, apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the law.”