Troops of the ‘Operation Hadin Kai and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have repelled a coordinated attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on Damboa town, killing 16 insurgents in a fierce battle.

Zagazola Makama, a security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, disclosed this in a report.

Makama said the attack, which occurred in the early hours of the morning on 23/5/25, by the terrorists targeted the Azir Bridge axis and the 25 Task Force Brigade location in Damboa.

Troops, supported by indirect fire and air interdictions from the Air Component Command, engaged the terrorists in a sustained firefight that lasted 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 many enemy casualties,” a security source said.

At least 16 bodies of the terrorists were recovered after the exchange, with several others believed to have fled with gunshot wounds. Unfortunately, two soldiers paid the supreme price during the gun battle with the terrorists.

The sources also confirmed that while the troops were able to bring the situation under control, an explosion from one of the terrorists’ projectiles caused a fire at an ammunition storage facility, which caused damage to two structures.

Makama noted that the fire was promptly contained.

“Pursuit operations are currently ongoing to track down fleeing terrorists, while clearance operations continue around the general area. Damboa, located in southern Borno, has been a frequent target of ISWAP attacks due to its strategic location,” Makama said.

The Nigerian military has maintained a strong presence in the area to prevent its fall to the insurgents.

“Operation Hi”, the military’s flagship counterterrorism operation in the North-East, has intensified offensive actions in recent weeks, recording significant gains against ISWAP and Boko Haram elements across Borno and Yobe states, respectively.