Nigerian troops repel jihadi attack in Borno state

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — A Nigerian service member is seen in an undated photo posted to X/Twitter by @DefenseNigeria on August. 7, 2024.

By Ahmed Kingimi

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria  -  Four Nigerian soldiers were killed and five wounded when troops repelled a coordinated attack by Islamist insurgents in Ngamdu, northeastern Borno State, the military said on Friday.

Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have this year stepped up attacks on military bases in Borno state, the heartland of an insurgency that has killed thousands and displaced about 2 million people in over a decade.

In the latest attack late on Thursday, insurgents used rocket-propelled grenades, armed drones, and improvised explosive devices targeting military personnel and vehicles, a military spokesperson said. 

Reinforcements from the 29 Task Force Brigade helped repel the assault, which also damaged several Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and gun trucks, the military added.

The insurgents planted multiple IEDs along the Ngamdu–Damaturu main supply route, temporarily halting movement. Military engineers later cleared three explosive-laden sites, reopening the route to military and civilian traffic.

The military said it had killed at least 15 attackers.

Insurgents have launched 333 attacks in northeast Nigeria this year, compared to 375 in all of 2024, data compiled by conflict monitoring group ACLED showed.

Nigeria's military says it has launched counterinsurgency operations in recent months in Borno state to try to dismantle insurgency networks in the northeast region.

 (Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by MacDonald Dzirutwe and Bill Berkrot // REUTERS)