Nigerian Troops Repel ISWAP Attack, Kill 61 Fighters in Borno

Nigerian troops, supported by air strikes, have killed at least 61 suspected ISWAP fighters in Borno State during a failed attack on a military base, according to military sources.

The assault occurred early Wednesday in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area, targeting soldiers stationed at the 68 Battalion. Insurgents advanced on foot from the Duguri axis and attempted to deploy armed drones to penetrate the military position.

The attack was repelled by coordinated ground and air operations. Military officials said precision strikes and sustained gunfire from troops forced the insurgents to retreat toward the Arege general area.

“Our forces executed four highly effective air interdiction strikes on enemy concentrations, significantly degrading their combat capability,” a military source reported. “The combined action of land and air units denied the insurgents freedom of movement and compelled a disorderly withdrawal.”

Allied air forces from Niger also engaged the fleeing fighters, conducting strike operations to support Nigerian troops. Assessment of the impact from these strikes is ongoing.

Despite the intensity of the encounter, only four soldiers were slightly injured and have since been stabilized.

Malam Fatori, close to Nigeria’s border with Niger, continues to be a strategic location in the fight against insurgency in the Lake Chad region. The operation underscores ongoing efforts by Nigerian forces under Operation Hadin Kai to secure border communities and counter extremist activity.