Nigerian Army ambush kills 38 ISWAP terrorists in Borno
By Ishaya Ibrahim
At least 38 terrorists of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were killed on Friday by troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mandaragirau in Borno State.
According to a statement on Saturday signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force OPHK, the troops engaged the attackers with “well-coordinated ambushes and a deliberate offensive-defensive response that forced them into a disorderly withdrawal,” while the Air Component provided close air support and ISR feedback to enhance targeted kinetic responses.
Subsequent exploitation along the terrorists’ withdrawal routes inflicted further heavy losses.
“A total of about 38 terrorists were neutralized with 8 bodies recovered so far within the immediate engagement area and human intelligence from locals confirming over 30 additional terrorists’ bodies and weapons strewn along Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis into the Timbuktu Triangle. This was evidenced by blood trails and abandoned equipment,” the statement added.
Troops recovered seven AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, four RPG bombs, and assorted ammunition. The JTF recorded no fatalities, though one MRAP vehicle was hit by RPG fire, with injured personnel but were promptly stabilised.
The statement noted that the scale of enemy losses “has triggered widespread jubilation among local communities and highlights the sustained dominance of OPHK troops in denying terrorists freedom of action.”
Further exploitation operations are ongoing along the Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis to recover bodies and consolidate gains.
