Troops of Operation Hadin Kai on Friday night stopped an attempted attack by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province on a military Forward Operating Base in Mairari, Borno State, killing several of the attackers.
The Joint Task Force North East said the terrorists tried to enter the base using two vehicles loaded with explosives. Soldiers on duty detected the vehicles early and destroyed them before they could reach the base, stopping any breach.
The attack began late on Friday and continued into the early hours of Saturday. Troops responded with coordinated ground action and air support, forcing the attackers to retreat. Surveillance and checks carried out after the clash showed that many of the terrorists were killed, while others were badly injured and taken away by their fleeing members.
After the failed assault, troops from Sector 3, with support from the Theatre Command Quick Reaction Group, the police crack team and the Civilian Joint Task Force, searched the surrounding area. During the operation, they found bodies of the attackers and recovered weapons and supplies left behind.
Items recovered included rifles, ammunition, grenades, motorcycles, communication tools, combat clothing and medical materials. The explosives used in the vehicles were also destroyed, causing damage to parts of the road but leaving the base intact.
Military authorities said there was no successful entry into the base, adding that troops remain on high alert and are carrying out patrols around the area to prevent further attacks and reassure nearby communities.
The army said its forces remain committed to defeating terrorist groups and restoring peace across the North-East.