Troops of the Nigerian military have successfully repelled a midnight infiltration attempt by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists into Monguno town and Bitta community, both located in the Lake Chad region.
The operation led to the elimination of several insurgents, including a senior commander identified as Ibn Khalid and the group’s cameraman.
According to Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the fierce encounter occurred around 2:30 am when troops engaged the terrorists in Bitta, resulting in heavy casualties on the enemy side.
Seventeen other insurgents were also neutralized in different operations spanning across the Sambisa axis, including Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State and Kaga in Borno State.
General Abdulsalam noted that some of the terrorists managed to flee with gunshot wounds, as evident from blood trails observed along their escape paths.
Recovered items from the operation include two AK-47 magazines, 7.26mm special ammunition, one PKT machine gun belt, a rocket-propelled grenade bomb, and a camcorder.
Monguno town, which is the headquarters of Northern Borno and home to Sector 3 operations under the Multinational Joint Task Force, has seen restored civil authority with residents going about their normal activities.
However, several surrounding communities in the Lake Chad region remain abandoned and yet to be rebuilt following years of terrorist occupation and destruction.
