Eric Patrick
The Nigerian Army troops of Operation Hadin Kai and its Air Component have repelled a coordinated attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on Damboa town, killing 16 insurgents in a fierce overnight battle.
This was made known in a statement shared on the Nigerian Army’s Facebook page on Friday.
According to the statement, the attack occurred at about 1:00 a.m. on Thursday, when the terrorists simultaneously targeted the Azir Bridge axis and the 25 Task Force Brigade location in Damboa.
Damboa, located in the southern part of Borno, has been a frequent target of ISWAP attacks due to its strategic location.
The troops, supported by indirect fire and air interdictions from the Air Component Command, engaged the terrorists in a sustained firefight that lasted over two hours.
The statement read, “At about 1am today 23 May 2025, gallant troops of Operation Hadin Kai, sighted a group of ISWAP/BokoHaram terrorists in Damboa and immediately engaged them with sustained indirect fire.
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“The main thrust of the attack targeted the Brigade, prompting the swift deployment of air support to assist ground forces.
“After approximately two hours of intense engagement, the terrorists were forced to retreat after suffering casualties.
“Troops successfully neutralized 16 terrorists in the encounter and are currently conducting a pursuit operation.
“Although an ammunition storage area was hit during the exchange, it was quickly brought under control with no further escalation.”