Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, have foiled attempts by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters to infiltrate Maiduguri and other parts of Borno State, killing two insurgents during the operation.
The military said the failed infiltration attempt followed intelligence reports on the movement of the terrorists in the early hours of Friday, as they tried to enter the Borno State capital through multiple routes.
In a statement on Friday, the spokesman for Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the insurgents attempted to gain access through Muna Garage, Shuwari Village and Ajilari Cross areas between 12:20am and 2:30am.
He said troops, acting on early warning information, intercepted the terrorists and engaged them from different directions, forcing them to abandon their planned operation.
“Troops, leveraging early warning intelligence, detected the movement of the terrorists and engaged them from multiple directions,” Goni said.
He added that two ISWAP fighters were neutralised during the encounter, while several others sustained gunshot injuries and fled the area.
The military spokesman further disclosed that troops also repelled separate infiltration attempts by terrorists at Miringa and Dutsen Kura along the Buratai axis of Borno State.
According to him, a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle belonging to the troops triggered an Improvised Explosive Device while pursuing fleeing insurgents at Miringa, but no casualty was recorded.
Goni said the terrorists withdrew in disarray after encountering strong resistance from the troops, adding that clearance operations were ongoing to locate the fleeing fighters and prevent further attacks.
He reassured residents that Operation Hadin Kai remained committed to sustaining offensive operations against insurgents and restricting their movement across the North-East.
The latest development comes amid continued military efforts to contain insurgent activities in Borno State, the epicentre of the Boko Haram and ISWAP conflict that has affected communities in the region for over a decade.
