Troops of Sector 3, operating under the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and Operation Hadin Kai, have thwarted a terrorist attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Kukawa, Borno State.
This was disclosed on Monday by Zagazola Makama, a Lake Chad Basin counterterrorism and insurgency expert, in a post on his X handle.
According to the report, the attack occurred in the early hours of Monday, with ISWAP fighters advancing from different flanks on motorcycles.
Makama stated that he was informed by intelligence sources that the insurgents launched their attack with an SVBIED leading their assault team.
He further noted that the swift and strategic response of soldiers from the 101 Special Forces Battalion neutralized the immediate threat, triggering an intense gun battle.
“During the engagement, several ISWAP fighters were killed, while the terrorists were forced to abandon significant amounts of equipment and supplies as they fled.
“The troops received prompt air support from the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, which carried out precision strikes on retreating ISWAP fighters, killing several of them. This aerial reinforcement helped to consolidate the military’s dominance, forcing the insurgents to retreat in disarray.
“While the exact number of casualties among the insurgents remains undisclosed, troops recovered several pieces of equipment, including anti-aircraft guns, GPMGs, as well as motorcycles,” Makama said. The security expert further stated that military intelligence sources warned that ISWAP might attempt to regroup and retaliate, potentially targeting reinforcements or military bases using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or ambush tactics.