Troops of the Nigerian Army, in a coordinated operation with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Wednesday repelled an attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on a military base in Rann, Kala-Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.
The insurgents, who reportedly disguised themselves as Fulani herders, launched the assault in the early hours of the day, targeting the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in the area.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert reporting on the Lake Chad region, the attack was met with fierce resistance by the troops on ground, leading to a prolonged exchange of gunfire.
Reinforcement came in the form of a NAF fighter jet, which provided aerial support at a critical point during the engagement.
The air troops’ arrival triggered panic among the attackers, who attempted to flee in various directions.
However, a group of them, escaping in a Hilux vehicle, was tracked and neutralised by the fighter jet. The vehicle was also destroyed in the process.
While the number of casualties on the part of the terrorists could not be immediately ascertained, Makama noted that calm had returned to the area following the military’s intervention.
This development comes barely a day after Boko Haram insurgents reportedly killed at least five soldiers in separate attacks on military bases across the state.
Borno has remained a hotbed of insurgent activities despite ongoing military operations aimed at restoring normalcy to the region.
Efforts to reach military authorities for official confirmation were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
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