In a dramatic showdown at dawn, gallant troops of the Nigerian Army’s Sector 3 under Operation Hadin Kai thwarted a massive, coordinated assault by ISWAP terrorists on the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Mallam Fatori, Borno State.

According to intelligence obtained by Zagazola Makama, the brazen attack erupted in the early hours of Wednesday when over 150 blood-thirsty insurgents stormed the troops’ defensive positions from the Kaniram axis, unleashing chaos with Automatic Grenade Launchers and armed drones.

The terrorists, advancing in waves under cover of darkness, attempted to overwhelm the camp’s defences in a bid to wreak havoc on vulnerable civilians.

But the troops, battle-ready and resolute, met the enemy head-on with blistering mortar fire and devastating tank shelling that rocked the battlefield from the western flank.

What followed was an intense four-hour firefight that pushed the soldiers to the limits of endurance. At one point, the attackers managed to breach part of the IDP camp perimeter — but their brief success was met with a fierce counter-offensive that broke their ranks and sent them fleeing in disarray.

Sources confirmed that 12 ISWAP fighters were neutralised in the operation.

Troops also seized a cache of deadly weapons, including seven AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), two Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs), and several explosive devices.

Though assessment of troop casualties was still underway at the time of filing this report, the swift and decisive response of the Nigerian forces ensured the camp remained under firm control.

Security remains tense in the area, but troops have been placed on maximum alert to crush any further terrorist advances before they take shape.