The Defence Headquarters has confirmed that Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists ambushed military troops conducting stabilization operations in the Gubio Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State, resulting in a heavy gunfight.
The attack led to the death of five soldiers, while 10 others were wounded and four reported missing. In the course of the engagement, over 30 terrorists were neutralized, though several others escaped with bullet wounds.
Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, provided the update in a statement, noting that weapons were recovered and significant damage was inflicted on terrorist equipment. “The attack resulted in the destruction of one gun truck, three TCVs, and an excavator,” Buba stated. He added that a reinforcement team, supported by air components, was promptly deployed to track and pursue the fleeing insurgents.
Sources revealed that the terrorists had launched multiple assaults aimed at overrunning a special military force stationed in Kareto, a community within Gubio LGA. The first attack took place on August 16 at 6:00 a.m., which claimed the lives of 18 soldiers, leaving several others injured, while six insurgents were eliminated.
In a subsequent attack on Tuesday, five soldiers were killed, but over 30 terrorists were neutralized in follow-up engagements, with no additional casualties reported on the Nigerian side.
The source further explained that the special forces had recently arrived in Kareto and were in the process of constructing trenches to aid the return of displaced villagers when the insurgents launched their attack.
The Defence Headquarters continues to monitor the situation and remains committed to reinforcing its efforts to combat terrorist threats in the region.
