Nigerian Troops Push Back ISWAP Attack Close To Borno Capital

Nigerian troops have reportedly pushed back an attack on Jakana, 25 kilometres away from the Borno State capital, Maiduguri, from fighters of the Islamic State West African Provence (ISWAP) on Sunday morning. 

Jakana lies between the ISWAP camp in Benisheikh forest area of Borno and other hideouts around the Buni Yadi area of Yobe State, from where the terrorists launch near daily attacks on civilians and military targets.

In October 2020, the terrorists attacked a military base in the area, killing 14 soldiers. 

PR Nigeria reported that the terrorists stormed the area firing machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) from gun trucks.

According to an intelligence source, the attack was successfully repelled by the Nigerian troops assisted by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). 

“The terrorist group had attempted to overrun the town to loot food items and drugs and also to invade a military formation to loot arms and ammunition,” the source said. 

He noted that the “prompt response from the air task force saved the situation as some of the terrorists met their Waterloo in superior gun power from the gallant troops.”

“Meanwhile, the ground troops have commenced a clearance operation of the area,” the source added. 

Hundreds of motorists were stopped in traffic along the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway for three hours as the troops engaged the terrorists in a shootout. 

The military escorted the long convoy of stranded motorists after repelling the attack.