Three killed as troops repel attack on newly resettled village in Borno

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai repelled a night-time attack by suspected ISWAP fighters on a military base in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, with two soldiers and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) losing their lives during the fierce exchange of gunfire.

The incident was disclosed in a statement issued to journalists on Thursday by Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai.

He said the attack occurred at about 11:25 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, at the Forward Operating Base in Mairari.

According to the military, troops stationed at the base engaged the attackers in a prolonged firefight. They forced them to retreat after recovering several weapons and military items from the scene.

The military also stated that surveillance conducted after the encounter indicated that the attackers evacuated some of their dead and wounded from the battlefield. The casualty figures on the attackers’ side were not independently verified.

The attack came only weeks after more than 950 households reportedly returned to Mairari under an ongoing resettlement programme aimed at restoring normal life in communities previously displaced by insurgency.

Military authorities said no civilian casualties were recorded during the attack, despite what they described as an attempt by the insurgents to disrupt the resettlement process and intimidate returning residents.

“We mourn the fallen personnel, the Theatre Command said. Two soldiers and one CJTF member were killed during the operation, while some military equipment was damaged by rocket-propelled grenade fire.

“The Theatre Command mourns these gallant heroes and extends its heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones,” the statement said.

In a related operation, a reinforcement team from Monguno reportedly detected and safely detonated two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted along an access route before engaging the fleeing attackers.

Operation Hadin Kai has remained at the forefront of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East, where security forces continue to conduct clearance operations against insurgent groups while supporting the gradual resettlement of communities affected by years of conflict.