Nigerian forces thwarted an ambush by Islamist militants in Borno State, killing 34 insurgents, the military announced Wednesday. However, six soldiers lost their lives in the confrontation.
The attack occurred on Saturday in Sabon Gari village when troops returning to their base were targeted, according to military spokesman Major-General Edward Buba. The militants, identified as members of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), approached in trucks armed with heavy guns and on motorcycles.
Reinforced by Civilian Joint Taskforce militias and local vigilantes, the troops managed to repel the attackers. Airstrikes launched by the Nigerian Air Force inflicted additional casualties on the fleeing insurgents, Buba confirmed.
The northeast of Nigeria has endured a 16-year insurgency led by Boko Haram and ISWAP, causing widespread destruction, displacement, and a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
In the operation, six soldiers died, and a vigilante commander sustained injuries from an improvised explosive device (IED). Military officials remain committed to restoring peace to the troubled region.
