Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have foiled an attempted attack by ISWAP terrorists on a military base in Mairari, Borno State.
The assailants, it was learnt, attempted to breach the Forward Operating Base on Friday night using two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs), triggering a fierce engagement that lasted into the early hours of Saturday.
A statement by the Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, said vigilant troops detected the threat early and neutralised the explosives before they could inflict significant damage or gain access to the facility.
According to him, CCTV footage and field reports indicated that several terrorists were killed during the encounter, while others sustained injuries.
The fleeing insurgents were observed evacuating their dead and wounded from the scene.
Following the successful defence, troops of Sector 3, supported by the Theatre Command Quick Reaction Group, the Nigeria Police Crack Team and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), conducted a thorough sweep of the surrounding areas.
The operation led to the recovery of assorted weapons and items abandoned by the terrorists, including AK-47 rifles, ammunition, hand grenades, motorcycles, communication gadgets, combat uniforms and medical supplies.
Lt.-Col. Uba confirmed that the two VBIEDs were destroyed by the troops’ defensive fire, resulting in damage to sections of the road, but stressed that the base was not breached.
He added that soldiers have intensified aggressive patrols around Mairari to forestall further attacks and reassure residents of the sustained military presence in the area.