The Nigerian military says one soldier sustained an injury during a failed Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attack on a military base in Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The soldier whose identity was not disclosed sustained gunshot injury to his left arm, and was being treated, according to a statement by Mohammed Goni, the spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, a joint task force in the North-east.
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Mr Goni, a Nigerian Army captain, stated that the terrorists attempted to overrun the military base on Monday, but were resisted by the ground troops, including members of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
The ground troops, he said, were assisted by the air component of operation Hadin Kai, which provided Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) during the attack.
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This coordinated response forced the terrorists to retreat “with casualties.”
“As the terrorists attempted to escape following the fierce resistance from ground troops, the air component conducted precision strikes on identified hostile elements, disrupting their withdrawal and further frustrating their efforts to regroup,” Mr Goni said.
The military spokesperson added that “military positions across Pulka remained securely under the control of the security forces.”
He paid tribute to the members of the CJTF who “played an important supporting role during the operation by providing useful local information and assisting the troops in maintaining situational awareness.”
Mr Goni said troops further carried out an “operation” to determine extent of battle damage, recover abandoned weapons, and obtain intelligence that could help track down fleeing terrorists.
The military spokesperson said the coordinated response “demonstrated the effectiveness of joint efforts in confronting terrorist threats across the theatre.”
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“Troops remain firmly deployed and on heightened alert across the area, with aggressive patrols, surveillance and other offensive and defensive operations continuing to deny terrorist elements freedom of movement and action,” he said. “The military will sustain pressure on the terrorists while taking necessary measures to safeguard the lives and property of law-abiding citizens.”
He advised the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information to troops.
ISWAP, a second breakaway faction of Boko Haram has intensified attacks on military bases in recent years. But a joint operation involving Nigerian and US troops has decimated the group’s ability to carry out frequent attacks as it used to.
Even as it is weakened, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) warned that the group could carry out attacks to avenge the killings of its top commander, Abubakar Mainok and other fighters.
Mr Mainok was killed alongside some fighters by US and Nigerian troops following what the presidency described as months-long tracking in Abuja and Lake Chad region.
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