The Nigerian Army has confirmed that troops repelled a coordinated terrorist attack on a military base in Yobe State.
The development comes amid renewed assaults on military formations in neighbouring Borno State, where several soldiers, including commanding officers, have reportedly been killed in recent attacks.
Army spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force (North-East) Operation HADIN KAI successfully repelled the attack at Goniri in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
According to him, troops of the 120 Task Force Battalion stationed in Goniri contained and repelled the assault launched by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province.
Uba explained that the attack occurred between the night of March 9 and the early hours of March 10 when terrorists attempted to storm the military location from multiple directions.
The army spokesman said surveillance assets detected the insurgents as they advanced toward the base.
He said, “The terrorists were initially detected through surveillance assets approaching the military location simultaneously from Goniri village and Ngamdu junction in an attempt to encircle the camp.
“The gallant troops responded with exceptional manoeuvre and firepower, coordinating their defensive actions while reinforcements and the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI provided timely and decisive air support.”
Uba said the terrorists suffered heavy casualties during the firefight and were eventually forced to retreat.
He revealed that more than 20 terrorists were killed during the operation, including a senior commander identified as Abu Yusu, who was said to be the Munzir of Dursula.
“Several terrorist bodies were left behind, while troops recovered weapons and equipment abandoned during the retreat, including machine guns, AK-47 rifles, bombs and assorted ammunition of various calibre,” he said.
The spokesman added that additional bodies of terrorists were recovered during follow-up patrols carried out in the Gwaigomari area within the Timbuktu Triangle up to the early hours of March 11.
He noted that although some sections of the defensive perimeter of the base were temporarily breached during the attack, troops maintained control of the location.
According to him, some structures and vehicles within the camp were damaged due to the intensity of the assault.
Uba said injured soldiers had been evacuated for medical attention and were currently in stable condition.
He added that the military base remained firmly under the control of Operation HADIN KAI troops.
The army spokesman further stated that ground troops, supported by the air component, were conducting follow-up operations and search missions in nearby communities where some wounded terrorists were believed to have fled.
He reaffirmed the commitment of Operation HADIN KAI to the complete defeat of terrorist groups operating in the North-East region.
