Troops Neutralise Over 50 ISWAP Fighters In Failed Night Attack On Yobe Military Base

Troops Neutralise Over 50 ISWAP Fighters In Failed Night Attack On Yobe Military Base

At least 50 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have been neutralised after troops of the 27 Brigade of the Nigerian Army successfully repelled a coordinated night attack on their base in Buni Gari, Yobe State, in the early hours of Thursday, May 8.

The incident was confirmed in a statement issued on Saturday by the spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, who said the attackers attempted a multi-directional assault but were decisively defeated by troops on ground.

The terrorists launched their attack around 2 a.m., advancing in waves from multiple directions in an attempt to overrun the military position. The attackers reportedly struck first from the western flank before reinforcing through the southern axis near Ganinga Junction, and later attempting another push from the south-western corridor in what appeared to be an encirclement strategy.

Despite the coordinated assault, troops of the 27 Brigade held their positions firmly and engaged the attackers with what military officials described as superior firepower, tactical discipline, and coordinated defensive manoeuvres. The army said the response prevented any breach of the base.

Lt.-Col. Uba explained that the troops executed an offensive-defensive battle strategy, using indirect fire support to weaken and disorganise the attackers while systematically repelling them from all directions.

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According to him, the resistance offered by troops forced the terrorists into confusion, leading to a chaotic retreat. He added that many insurgents fled while evacuating their dead and wounded, with trails of blood reportedly observed along their escape routes.

Military authorities confirmed that no fewer than 50 terrorists were neutralised, while a large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from fleeing fighters after the engagement.

The operation also received strong backing from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), which provided continuous Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) coverage to support ground troops during the battle.

The air component conducted precision strikes on confirmed terrorist positions and retreating elements, resulting in the additional neutralisation of about 20 ISWAP fighters during aerial pursuit operations along escape corridors.

Subsequent intelligence reports, according to the military, indicated the presence of multiple bodies along withdrawal routes, further confirming the scale of losses suffered by the insurgents.

Authorities further confirmed that the military base was not breached at any point during the attack, stressing that the integrity of the formation remained intact throughout the operation.

The Operation Hadin Kai command described the outcome as a significant success in ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North-East, where ISWAP and Boko Haram factions continue to operate in parts of the Lake Chad Basin.

Security analysts note that sustained joint operations between ground forces and the air component have continued to degrade insurgent capabilities, although sporadic attacks still occur in remote communities.

As of the time of filing this report, ISWAP has not issued any statement regarding the reported losses or the failed attack.

Troops Neutralise Over 50 ISWAP Fighters In Failed Night Attack On Yobe Military Base