Troops of the Nigerian military have repelled attempted infiltrations into Monguno town and Bitta community in the Lake Chad region, killing scores of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including a senior commander, during midnight operations.

 

 

 

The foiled attacks occurred around 2:30 a.m. when the terrorists launched coordinated offensives on the two locations. In Bitta community, a fierce gun battle ensued as Nigerian Army troops engaged the militants, resulting in the death of a high-ranking insurgent identified as Ibn Khalid, described as a Senior Quiad Commander. A terrorist cameraman was also killed in the exchange of fire.

 

 

 

 

The Theater Commander of the Northeast Joint Taskforce, Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, confirmed the operation’s success, stating that at least 17 insurgents were neutralised in separate encounters across parts of Sambisa forest stretching into Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State and Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.

 

 

 

He noted that several terrorists fled with gunshot wounds, and bloodstains were found along their withdrawal routes, indicating likely fatalities among those who escaped.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Military troops recovered weapons and equipment from the battlefields, including two AK-47 magazines, 7.26mm special ammunition, a PKT belt, a Rocket Propelled Grenade bomb, and a camcorder believed to be used by the terrorists for propaganda purposes.

 

 

 

Monguno, the administrative headquarters of Northern Borno, lies on the fringes of the Lake Chad basin and is home to Sector 3 of Operation Hadin Kai as well as the Multinational Joint Task Force. Although civil authorities have resumed control in Monguno and residents have returned to their normal routines, many communities around Lake Chad remain deserted, pending reconstruction and restoration efforts.