The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed that six soldiers were killed during an attack by the Islamic State West Africa Province ISWAP raid.
ISWAP fighters launched a pre-dawn raid on Sunday, targeting the base in Sabon Gari, located in Borno State’s Damboa district. Witness accounts from two military officers revealed that the insurgents arrived in trucks and on motorcycles, launching a coordinated assault.
“We lost six soldiers in the ISWAP terrorists’ attack on the base after an intense gun battle,” AFP quoted one of the officers as saying. The insurgents reportedly set fire to the base and several army vehicles during the attack.
The Defence Headquarters, in a statement issued on Wednesday, provided an update on the incident. It disclosed that 34 terrorists were killed during the operation, and 23 AK-47 rifles were recovered, along with over 200 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
ALSO READ:2024, tough year for Nigerians — SDP’s Adebayo
The statement read: “On 4 January 2025, an unspecified number of ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorists riding on motorcycles and gun trucks engaged troops deployed in Sabon Gari village of Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State in a firefight. The terrorists had attempted to surprise troops and retaliate against the recent killing of their commander and combatants by troops.
“The terrorists were taken unaware when troops on a fighting patrol returning to base foiled their planned attack as soon as the assault commenced. Additionally, the troops’ reinforcement team, comprising elements of the Civilian Joint Task Force, vigilantes, and hybrid forces, timely arrived at the scene to overpower the terrorists.
“Furthermore, the reinforcement team encountered an improvised explosive device (IED) that injured the Vigilante Commander but managed to arrive in time to decimate the fleeing terrorists. The air component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted air interdictions on the fleeing terrorists, with a battle damage assessment revealing several casualties among the insurgents and recovered weapons.
“On the whole, 34 terrorists were killed and 23 AK-47 weapons were recovered. Troops also seized over 200 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition. Sadly, six personnel were killed in action. The names of the killed-in-action personnel are being withheld to allow administrative procedures of notifying their next of kin to be concluded. Accordingly, the media is requested to respect this process.”
The Armed Forces reiterated its commitment to defeating insurgency and terrorism in the region, stating that it remains “profoundly conscious” of its role and responsibilities.
Since 2009, northern Nigeria has faced ongoing violence from jihadist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP, as well as armed criminal gangs. The conflict has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced around two million people. In a similar incident in November, ISWAP fighters raided a military base in Kareto village near the border with Niger, killing five Nigerian troops and injuring 10 others.
