Nigerian Army troops have successfully repelled twin coordinated midnight attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in Borno State, killing 16 insurgents in fierce gun battles that unfortunately claimed the lives of three Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members and one vigilante.

According to security sources, the first attack occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday in Gajibo, Ngala Local Government Area, where insurgents attempted to infiltrate the community. Alert troops responded swiftly and received reinforcements from Dikwa, successfully dislodging the attackers. One insurgent was killed in the operation, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds.

In the early hours of Friday, approximately 2:30 a.m., another group of terrorists launched an attack on Damboa, the headquarters of Damboa LGA. The attackers reportedly fired a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), damaging a section of a military outpost. However, the military responded with overwhelming force, including air support from a fighter jet, which helped neutralize 15 more insurgents and forced the remaining attackers to flee.

Borno State has experienced a renewed wave of insurgent activities in recent weeks, with 12 attacks recorded in the last three weeks alone, resulting in over 40 civilian casualties. Intelligence reports suggest that the recent upsurge in violence may be retaliation for intensified military operations in the Sambisa Forest, where air and ground offensives have targeted known terrorist enclaves.

The Nigerian Army has claimed several operational victories in Sambisa, where troops have bombarded insurgent camps and disrupted their supply routes. Military officials believe these proactive offensives have provoked desperate retaliatory attacks on civilian and military targets across the region.

Governor Babagana Zulum, who has been touring recently attacked communities including Rann, Dikwa, Marte, and Wulgo, has renewed his appeal to the federal government for urgent and increased support to the military. He warned that the resurgence in violence is hampering efforts to resettle internally displaced persons and restore normalcy to affected areas.

The recent attacks highlight the ongoing security challenges in northeastern Nigeria, where Boko Haram and its splinter group ISWAP have waged a more than decade-long insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions of residents.