Troops of Operation HADIN MAI have thwarted an attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, neutralising several of the assailants and disrupting their attempted withdrawal following an assault on a military formation in Azir, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to intelligence sources quoted by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, on Friday, the elimination of the terrorists followed an intervention by the Nigerian Air Force Component of Operation Hadin Kak, who provided decisive close air support to ground troops during the attack in the early hours of Friday.
It was gathered that the bandits initially attempted to breach part of the defensive perimeter but were met with overwhelming and sustained firepower from gallant troops, with support from the Air Component and other Nigerian Army aerial platforms.
After a prolonged firefight lasting over an hour, the terrorists were decisively overpowered and forced to withdraw.
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During the engagement, the terrorists’ Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) fire affected troop-carrying vehicles which were partially gutted by fire. Despite this, troops maintained firm control of the situation.
Several terrorist weapons and ammunition were recovered including a 60mm mortar tube, mortar bombs, locally fabricated explosives, heavy machine gun rounds and hundreds of rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
The report further revealed that Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) immediately tracked the fleeing terrorists, enabling follow-up operations along identified withdrawal routes by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).
