One soldier killed as troops ‘bomb 22 ISWAP fighters’ in Borno, Yobe

The air component of the north-east joint task force of Operation Hadin Kai, has reportedly shelled 17 fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), in Borno. 

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the air strikes were conducted on Wednesday around 9 am at Ajigun in Timbuktu triangle, Damboa LGA of the state.

The publication said the air precision attack, led by Gold Chibuisi, the theatre commander, was conducted after surveillance revealed a large gathering of terrorists planning to attack the troops’ location in Wajiroko in Damboa.

It added that a woman who escaped from the terrorists’ den after the attack, told the troops that the air strikes killed 17 of the terrorists while several others were wounded.

Zagazola Makama said one of the ISWAP’s gun trucks which fired back was also destroyed during the attack. 

In a similar development, troops of 27 task force battalion, sector 2 of Operation Hadin Kai, have reportedly killed five ISWAP fighters during an operation in Yobe.

Zagazola Makama said the ISWAP fighters were killed in a gun duel with the troops at the Mulumti general area of Buni Gari.

Intelligence sources told the publication that the troops overwhelmed the terrorists with superior firepower which forced them to withdraw into the bush.

The publication said one trooper was gunned down while 1 Conqueror APC, 4 Ak47 rifles with 4 extra Magazines, 1 GPMG, 1 NSVT GUN 1, Baofeng Radio and 150 Quantities of 12.7 MM rounds among others, were recovered.