Army: How troops foiled ISWAP attack on repentant insurgents in Borno

The Nigerian army has foiled an attack on repentant insurgents by the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Damboa, Borno state.

The ISWAP fighters had, on Saturday, advanced on the facility where the repentant insurgents are housed.

Onyema Nwachukwu, army spokesperson, in a statement on Sunday, said troops of operation Hadin Kai repelled the insurgents and chased them out of the area.

He said the attempted attack by ISWAP was to discourage the insurgents who had recently surrendered to the troops.

“The Islamic State of West African Province(ISWAP), confronted with the obvious reality of defeat embarked on a desperate move to undermine the unprecedented depletion in its fighting force, have resorted to attacks on surrendered Boko Haram members and their families,” the statement reads.

“This antic of terror within terror is being employed by ISWAP to discourage intending surrendering terrorists in their ranks. The latest strategy is not unconnected with the frustration of the group as top ranking commanders and members denounce violent agaitation to embrace peace in recent times.

“This palpable apprehension might have led ISWAP on Saturday, 2 October 2021 to embark on a mission to annihilate or capture BHTs, who surrendered in Damboa. The gallant troops of 25 Task Force Brigade Operation HADIN KAI whose superior firepower forced the terrorists to withdraw in disarray, ensured Damboa did not fall to their antics.

“The terrorists made futile attempt to access the facility housing the surrendered BHT members, but retreated when confronted with the superior firepower of own troops.

“The Nigerian Army(NA) wishes to reassure the good people of Damboa and environs to go about their normal businesses as vigilant troops would proactively continue to provide security of lives and property. The general public are also enjoined to provide actionable and timely information on the activities of these criminal elements and their collaborators.”

He said Faruk Yahaya, chief of army staff, charged the troops to take the fight to the “terrorists’ enclaves to deny them freedom of action”.