- The Nigerian Army confirmed that over 50 insurgents were killed in coordinated drone strikes across Borno and Yobe states.
- The military said the attacks targeted Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters who launched assaults on army bases in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko.
- Several soldiers sustained injuries during the fierce battle, while the army seized machine guns, RPGs, and other weapons from the insurgents.
- The Nigerian Army vowed to sustain drone operations in the northeast to eliminate remaining terrorists and restore peace in the region.
The Nigerian Army said on Thursday that it had killed more than 50 insurgents in coordinated drone and ground operations in Borno and Yobe states.
The deadly strike, which targeted Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, followed simultaneous attacks on army bases in the volatile northeast, marking another major step in Nigeria’s ongoing war against terrorism.
In the early hours of Thursday, insurgents launched coordinated assaults on military bases in Dikwa, Mafa, and Gajibo in Borno State, as well as in Katarko, Yobe State. Troops, supported by fighter jets and drones, engaged the attackers in a fierce battle that lasted for several hours.
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According to Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, who released a statement on behalf of the Nigerian Army, the combined ground and air response resulted in the killing of more than 50 terrorists. He said ongoing operations were underway to track over 70 wounded insurgents who fled during the assault.
Intelligence sources revealed that the attacks were carried out by fighters belonging to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The insurgents, armed with drones and rocket-propelled grenades, managed to breach parts of the military defence lines in Mafa and Dikwa before being repelled.
“Some vehicles and buildings were also gutted by fire during the battle,” Uba said. “Our troops displayed exceptional courage and determination to regain control of all affected bases.”
He confirmed that several soldiers sustained injuries, though no official casualty figures were given. The army also recovered a large cache of weapons, including machine guns, Kalashnikov rifles, and RPGs from the slain militants.
Pictures shared on the army’s official X (formerly Twitter) page showed troops standing over the lifeless bodies of the insurgents alongside seized weapons.
Residents in Mafa reported hearing heavy gunfire and explosions throughout the night. One local said that several trucks, mostly carrying cement and parked along the highway to Chad, were set ablaze by the militants before they were overpowered by the military.
Armed groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP have increasingly turned to using drones modified to drop explosives, posing a new threat to Nigerian forces operating in the region.
The insurgency, which began in 2009, has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced nearly two million people. The conflict has also spread beyond Nigeria’s borders into Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, prompting the formation of a regional task force to counter the jihadists.
Earlier this month, at least 14 soldiers were killed in two separate attacks in Borno State blamed on insurgents, one targeting an army base and another ambush on a military convoy.
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In recent years, the Nigerian Army has consolidated its operations into larger fortified “super camps” to better withstand militant raids and improve coordination. The military maintains that drone technology has significantly enhanced its ability to identify and strike insurgent hideouts.
As the fight against terrorism continues, authorities reaffirmed their commitment to restoring lasting peace and stability in the northeast.
