The Nigerian Army says its troops attached to Operation Hadin Kai have killed no fewer than 50 Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) Commanders during a counteroffensive in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
It would be recalled that ISWAP fighters had on Saturday ambushed the troops’ camp after the Commander 28 Task Force Brigade and Brig-Gen Dzarma Zirkusu and three soldiers were killed during the attack.
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But the troops in a retaliatory attack destroyed the terrorists’ Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle and Gun Trucks and neutralized 50 commanders and several other ISWAP fighters were also killed.
Spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement, explained that troops of 115 Task Force Battalion conducted dawn exploitation towards Leho village and environs.
He noted that troops also discovered 3 corpses of the fleeing terrorists and also recovered 2,560 rounds of 7.62mm Special and 29 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition abandoned by the terrorists.
Nwachukwu said, “Troops of Joint Task Force, North East (NE) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have neutralised over 50 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists and destroyed several of their combat equipment in a fierce counteroffensive in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
“In the counter-offensive, troops eliminated top commanders of ISWAP as well as foot soldiers.
“The gallant troops also unleashed massive destruction on the terrorists’ Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle and several gun trucks.
“It would be recalled, that 115 Task Force Battalion had an encounter with ISWAP terrorists in Askira Uba on 13 November 2021, during which the troops aggressively defended their location and followed up with a ferocious counter-attack.
“Unfortunately, the Commander 28 Task Force Brigade alongside three of his soldiers paid the supreme price, as they reinforced troops to defend the location.
“The equipment destroyed by troops include an MRAP vehicle and 11 Gun Trucks.
“The troops also recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition viz., Five Gun Trucks, two Anti Aircraft Guns, five AK 47 rifles, one HK Machine Gun and one HK Machine Gun links.
“Relatedly, troops of 115 Task Force Battalion conducted a dawn operation towards Leho village and environs, where they discovered 3 corpses of the fleeing terrorists and also recovered 2,560 rounds of 7.62mm Special and 29 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition abandoned by the terrorists.”
