Terrorists fighting under the flag of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) suffered serious human and material losses in the early hours of today following an attack on a military formation in New Marte, Borno State.
They, however, managed to evacuate at least 15 corpses of their colleagues after the failed midnight assault.
According to renowned counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, in a post on his X account on Tuesday, May 27, reliable sources disclosed to him that the terrorists, riding on about 20 motorcycles, launched a coordinated attack on troops in New Marte at about 1:35 a.m.
Makama said the insurgents also arrived with a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), a potential battle tide-turning weapon with capacity to decimate a rival’s defences.
But, they met stiff resistance from the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, who, fighting with superior firepower as well as backup from the Nigeria Air Force, the latter of which provided immediate Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and offensive fire support, led to the neutralizing of many of the terrorists.
Makama posted: “The VBIED, meant to cause maximum damage, was abandoned by the terrorists as they fled under sustained fire and aerial bombardment.”
Several of the terrorists’ motorcycles were destroyed by the military fightback, leaving them scrambling for means of escape.
A report from another source said: “During exploitation of the area, troops discovered lifeless bodies of the terrorists, with traces of blood on their withdrawal routes, indicating additional casualties inflicted on the terrorists.”
