Fresh details from the aftermath of a failed terrorist attack on Nigerian troops in Damboa, Borno State, have revealed that at least 41 fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were killed in a major airstrike carried out by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
The incident, which occurred on Friday, saw ISWAP militants launch an assault on the 25 Task Force Brigade in Damboa. However, the attack was swiftly repelled by troops under Operation HADIN KAI, with strong support from the NAF Air Component, which launched precision strikes on the advancing insurgents.
Initially, over 21 ISWAP fighters were confirmed dead, but military and local sources now say the death toll has risen. At least 20 more bodies were reportedly evacuated by the terrorists late Saturday night, using push carts and vehicles to remove their dead under cover of darkness.
“After the initial engagement, we counted over 21 dead, but by last night, several more bodies were seen being pulled out from the bush and farms. Some were badly burned or dismembered,” a source involved in the mop-up operation said.
According to military reports, the airstrikes hit four key locations, catching the terrorists in their advance formation and forcing them to retreat in confusion. The attack also led to the recovery of a cache of arms and ammunition, including General Purpose Machine Guns, AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, and hundreds of rounds of live ammunition.
Intelligence sources revealed that ISWAP commanders in the Lake Chad area ordered the night recovery mission to hide the true scale of losses from other fighters and maintain morale among their ranks.
“The evacuation was carried out quickly to prevent panic and loss of confidence among their members,” a security source said.
Efforts are ongoing to identify the neutralised insurgents, while surveillance in the area has been intensified to prevent regrouping or fresh attacks.
The military has reaffirmed its commitment to securing the North-East region, which has witnessed over a decade of insurgency from Boko Haram and its splinter group, ISWAP. The success of this operation marks another significant blow to the terrorists’ operational capacity in Borno State.
