In a decisive overnight operation, Nigerian Army troops under Operation Hadin Kai, supported by the Air Component, successfully repelled a coordinated assault by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on Damboa, Borno State, killing 16 insurgents.
The attack, which occurred around 1:00 a.m. on Thursday, targeted both the Azir Bridge axis and the 25 Task Force Brigade headquarters in Damboa, a town frequently targeted due to its strategic location in southern Borno.
According to counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, who reported the development via X, intelligence sources confirmed that the troops engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle lasting over two hours. The operation was bolstered by indirect fire support and precision airstrikes from the Nigerian Air Force.
“The terrorists launched a mass assault on the brigade location in Damboa,” a security source told Makama. “Troops responded with overwhelming firepower, neutralizing at least 16 insurgents. Several others fled with gunshot wounds.”
Despite the successful defense, two Nigerian soldiers lost their lives during the confrontation. In the course of the battle, an explosion from a terrorist-fired projectile ignited a fire at an ammunition storage facility, damaging two nearby structures. The fire was quickly brought under control.
Security forces have since launched pursuit operations to apprehend the fleeing insurgents, while clearance operations continue across the area to prevent further threats.
Damboa remains a critical zone in the counter-insurgency campaign, and Thursday’s battle underscores the Nigerian military’s ongoing efforts to neutralize terrorist threats and safeguard civilian populations in the region.
