Two soldiers were killed after troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, repelled a coordinated attack by suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province on the Headquarters of the 27 Brigade in Buni Gari, Yobe State.
The Nigerian Army said at least 50 terrorists were killed during the encounter, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday.
According to a statement issued Saturday by the Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, the insurgents attacked the brigade headquarters and the Buni Gari checkpoint at about 2 a.m.
Uba said the attackers launched the assault from multiple directions but were repelled through coordinated ground and air operations.
“The assault, launched under the cover of darkness by a large number of terrorists from multiple axes, was met with devastating firepower, tactical brilliance and resolute determination by troops who held their ground and inflicted catastrophic losses on the attackers,” he said.
According to the statement, the insurgents initially attacked from the western flank before reinforcing through the southern flank along the Ganinga Junction axis and later advancing from the south-western flank in an attempt to encircle the troops.
The army said troops deployed indirect fire and offensive-defensive tactics, forcing the attackers to retreat while evacuating some of their dead and wounded fighters.
“No fewer than 50 terrorists were neutralised, while a large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the fleeing remnants,” Uba added.
He said two soldiers died during the operation.
“Their sacrifice embodies the highest traditions of service, courage and unwavering commitment to the defence of the nation,” he said.
The military said no section of the brigade headquarters was breached during the attack.
“At no point was any part of the camp breached, as the integrity of the location remained fully intact throughout the engagement,” the statement said.
The army added that troops recovered 10 bodies of suspected terrorists around the area, while intelligence reports indicated that more than 20 additional bodies were found along withdrawal routes around Gashua, Azare and Kamuya.
The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI also provided intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, leading to precision airstrikes on identified terrorist positions and retreating insurgents, the statement said.
“In a synchronised air-land operation, precision air interdiction strikes were conducted on confirmed terrorist positions and fleeing elements, accounting for an additional 20 terrorists neutralised as aircraft pursued retreating insurgents along their escape corridors,” the statement added.
The military said troops and volunteer forces had launched follow-up operations to track fleeing insurgents and prevent regrouping efforts.
It added that some military equipment, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and gun trucks, sustained minor damage, while injured personnel were receiving medical treatment.
Recovered items included eight AK-47 rifles, two General Purpose Machine Guns, two Rocket-Propelled Grenade launchers, five RPG bombs, three RPG chargers, boxes of 7.62mm ammunition, loaded magazines, bandoliers of ammunition and three Improvised Explosive Device canisters.
