… Killed ISWAP Commander Abu Yusu, 20 fighters
The fierce overnight battle between troops of Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Goniri Borno State on Monday have become more clearer as troops reclaimed its base.
The battle resulted in the killing of 20 insurgents including a notorious field commander.
Sources said on Thursday that troops have finally crushed the daring coordinated assault. It erupted late Monday and stretched into the early hours of Tuesday as heavily armed terrorists launched a multi-directional attack aimed at overrunning the military position.
Military sources said the attackers had advanced simultaneously from Goniri village and the Ngamdu Junction axis in what security officials described as a calculated attempt to encircle and overwhelm the troops.
But the fierce attacks collapsed under the superior firepower and tactical response of the soldiers.
According to military authorities, surveillance assets first detected the advancing insurgents, enabling the troops to prepare defensive positions before the terrorists closed in.
When the shooting started, the soldiers fought back with what officials described as “precision firepower and coordinated manoeuvres,” forcing the attackers into a brutal firefight that lasted several hours.
Re-enforcements were immediately dispatched while the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI roared into action, delivering decisive close air support that shattered the terrorists’ offensive.
By the time the smoke cleared, the insurgents had been routed, security sources said .
They confirmed that over 20 terrorists were killed, including a senior ISWAP commander identified as Abu Yusu, also known as the Munzir of Dursula, a key operational figure within the insurgent network.
Troops conducting post-battle exploitation on Wednesday recovered a cache of weapons and explosives abandoned by the fleeing insurgents.
Items recovered include multiple machine guns, AK-47 rifles, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), bombs and large quantities of assorted ammunition.
Military patrols later extended clearance operations to the notorious Timbuktu Triangle, particularly around Gwaigomari, where additional bodies of terrorists were discovered during follow-up sweeps conducted up to Wednesday morning.
Security officials believe several wounded insurgents fled into nearby communities following the failed assault, prompting intensified search operations across surrounding areas.
Despite sustaining some injuries during the clash, wounded soldiers were swiftly evacuated for treatment and are currently reported to be in stable condition.
Military authorities confirmed that the base remains firmly under the control of Operation HADIN KAI forces, while aggressive pursuit operations have been launched to track down fleeing insurgents.
Ground forces, backed by air assets, are continuing search-and-destroy missions aimed at dismantling remaining terrorist cells in the area.
The Military High Command commended the troops for what it described as extraordinary gallantry and resilience in repelling the deadly assault.
Officials urged soldiers in the theatre to sustain the operational momentum as the armed forces intensify efforts to crush terrorism in the North-East.
Operation HADIN KAI has repeatedly vowed to eliminate insurgent strongholds and restore lasting peace across the region, which has endured more than a decade of terrorist violence.