The feat came barely a week after at least seven soldiers were killed by an improvised device planted by Boko Haram terrorists.
The Nigerian Army successfully repelled a terrorist attack on Damboa, a Borno community, killing over 50 attackers in the process, an official has said.
Army spokesperson Mohammed Yerima said the terrorists came in an armoured personnel carrier and 12 gun trucks “all mounted with Anti Aircraft Guns, as well as Locally Fabricated Armoured-plated Vehicles loaded with explosives and motorcycles.”
He said the terrorists, members of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), were defeated so much that they had to abort their suicide mission.
The latest feat comes barely a week after at least seven soldiers of the Nigerian Army were killed by an improvised explosive device planted by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.
It also comes about a week after the appointment of a new Chief of Army Staff, Farouk Yahaya, a major general.
ISWAP, a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, has become the dominant terrorist faction in Northeast Nigeria after its fighters fought and defeated Boko Haram, killing the latter’s leader, Abubakar Shekau.
Elated by the latest victory over ISWAP, Mr Yahaya asked the troops to sustain the ongoing offensive in order to put an end to insurgency in the region.
ISWAP TERRORISTS DECIMATED IN DAMBOA, ABANDONED SUICIDE MISSION
Nigerian Army troops operating as part of Operation Hadin Kai in conjunction with Air Component of the Operation have today Wednesday 2 June 2021 inflicted heavy casualty on Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) Terrorists group who launched a futile attack on Damboa LGA of Borno State. The terrorists attacked the town in multiple waves with Armoured Personnel Carriers and 12 Gun Trucks all mounted with Anti Aircraft Guns, as well as Locally Fabricated Armoured-plated Vehicles loaded with explosives and motorcycles.
The gallant troops successfully defeated the attack, destroyed the locally fabricated armoured-plated vehicles and neutralised over 50 ISWAP terrorists forcing the survivors to run in disarray under heavy gun fire from the resilient troops and Nigerian Air Force attack platforms. The so-called suicide bombers had to abandon their vehicles primed with explosives as they could not withstand the overwhelming fire power from the highly motivated troops. Several weapons and ammunitions were recovered from the depleted terrorists.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Faruk Yahaya congratulated the troops including the Air Component for this great achievement. The COAS restated the commitment of the Nigerian Army under his leadership to ending terrorism and other violent crimes in the North East and the rest of the country. He further enjoined the troops to sustain the ongoing offensive under Operation Tura Takaibango until this noble goal is attained.