MAIDUGURI, Borno State — Troops of the 3 Battalion (Mechanised), 24 Task Force Brigade, have successfully repelled an attack launched by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on a military location in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources cited by counterinsurgency publication Zagazola Makama said the assault occurred at about 2:44 a.m. on Friday, when the terrorists reportedly attempted coordinated attacks on the troops’ position from multiple directions, including Wurge, Manawaji, and Kinuba.
According to the report, the attackers tried to overwhelm the military base through simultaneous advances, a tactic commonly used by insurgent groups operating in the Lake Chad region. However, the troops responded swiftly, engaging the attackers in a sustained exchange of fire that disrupted the coordinated assault.
Military personnel were said to have maintained defensive positions and returned superior firepower, forcing the attackers to withdraw after encountering strong resistance. The confrontation reportedly lasted for several minutes before the terrorists retreated in disarray.
Following the repelled attack, troops carried out a clearance operation in the surrounding areas to prevent regrouping or further infiltration attempts. During the operation, weapons and other materials believed to belong to the fleeing insurgents were recovered from the scene.
Security sources described the recovery as part of ongoing efforts by the military to degrade the operational capacity of terrorist groups in the North-East. The seized items are expected to be subjected to further intelligence analysis to assist in tracking the movement and networks of the attackers.
The Ngala axis, located near Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, has remained a strategic and frequently targeted corridor for insurgent activities due to its proximity to the Lake Chad Basin, where remnants of ISWAP and Boko Haram factions continue to operate despite sustained military pressure.
Military authorities have repeatedly stated that operations in the region are ongoing, with troops conducting both offensive and defensive missions aimed at denying terrorists freedom of movement and disrupting their logistics and supply chains.
Residents in surrounding communities have also been advised to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements, as security forces continue intensified patrols and surveillance operations to prevent further attacks.
The Nigerian military has in recent months recorded several encounters with insurgents in Borno State, reflecting continued efforts to stabilize the North-East and restore normalcy to areas affected by long-standing insurgency.
Authorities maintain that while progress has been made in weakening terrorist groups, isolated attacks remain a challenge, necessitating sustained military presence and intelligence-driven operations across vulnerable locations.
