Troops of the 162 Amphibious Battalion have repelled an attempted attack by Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists on Forward Operating Base Mandaragirau in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, said the attack occurred at about 2:00am on Saturday when the terrorists launched a simultaneous assault on the military base from two fronts.
According to a statement by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Mohammed Goni, troops detected the advancing terrorists through early-warning and surveillance systems.
A combat team was immediately deployed to intercept the attackers along one of their routes of advance, leading to a heavy exchange of fire.
The troops successfully repelled the attackers on that front, while a second group attempted to bypass the ambush and infiltrate the military camp.
The second group was also met with superior firepower and defeated, forcing the terrorists to withdraw from the area.
Troops subsequently launched a pursuit and searched the area of the encounter and the routes used by the fleeing terrorists.
The military said several terrorists were neutralised during the operation, while troops recovered AK-47 rifles with loaded magazines, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher with bombs and chargers, a camcorder and other combat equipment.
Surveillance footage obtained after the operation also showed terrorists dragging away the bodies of some of their colleagues killed during the attack towards the Timbuktu Triangle.
The military said no soldier was killed or injured in the assault.
Operation HADIN KAI described the successful defence of the base as evidence of the troops’ readiness and operational effectiveness in countering terrorist attacks across the North-East.
The Theatre Command commended the personnel of the 162 Amphibious Battalion for their courage, professionalism and tactical performance.
It said Operation HADIN KAI remained committed to denying terrorists freedom of action and restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East.
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