Nigerian Army troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with the Air Component, have successfully repelled a coordinated attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on Damboa town in Borno State, killing 16 insurgents during a fierce overnight battle.

According to counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, who specializes in the Lake Chad region, the attack occurred around 1:00 a.m. on Thursday when ISWAP fighters simultaneously targeted the Azir Bridge axis and the 25 Task Force Brigade location in Damboa.

Damboa, situated in the southern part of Borno State, has been repeatedly targeted by ISWAP due to its strategic importance in the region.

Intelligence sources revealed that Nigerian troops, supported by indirect fire and air interdictions from the Air Component Command, engaged the terrorists in a sustained firefight lasting over two hours.

"The main thrust of the terrorists was the brigade location in Damboa, where they attacked en masse. However, the troops responded decisively with heavy firepower, leading to a significant number of enemy casualties," a source was quoted as saying.

Following the exchange, at least 16 bodies of terrorists were recovered, while several others reportedly fled with gunshot wounds. Tragically, two Nigerian soldiers lost their lives during the intense gun battle.

Sources confirmed that while the troops successfully contained the situation, an explosion from one of the terrorists' projectiles caused a fire at an ammunition storage facility, damaging two structures. The fire was quickly brought under control.

Military authorities have launched pursuit operations to track down fleeing terrorists, while clearance operations continue throughout the general area to ensure the safety of residents.

This successful defense comes amid ongoing counter-terrorism efforts by Nigerian security forces in the Northeast region, where ISWAP and other terrorist groups have maintained an insurgency for over a decade.