Military Base Attack: Troops repel ISWAP attack on Borno town
Armed men suspected to be Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), a rival terrorist group to Boko Haram have attacked a military base at Tamsukawu in Kaga Local Council of Borno State.
It was gathered that the terrorists came in five gun trucks, bursting from the southern fringe of Sambisa Forest, yesterday, and targeted soldiers at the base, chanting “Allahu Akbar” (‘God is great in Arabic) with residents running for their lives.
The attack was however successfully repelled by the military but it is still unclear if there were any casualties.
Civilians in the village, who were resettled in 2018, scampered to safety in their homes even though they were apparently not the target for the attack.
Confirming the attack in Maiduguri, the Commander, Sector 3 of Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), Modu Fannami, disclosed that the terrorists wore military uniforms.
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He said the clash between the terrorists and troops lasted for over an hour, before a fighter jet, along with ground troops, came as reinforcement for the soldiers.
“The few soldiers at the base are currently engaged in a heavy gun battle,” he said, adding that the terrorists were eventually repelled towards the forest.
On casualties, he said the number of soldiers and terrorists killed or injured were yet to be ascertained.
Motorists plying the road were also asked to stop at Ngamdu until the army cleared the road by 4.00 pm.
Tamsukawu, located along the Maiduguri-Damaturu Highway is about 80 kilometres from Maiduguri, the capital city.
Monday’s attack is the second in one week, around the same village.
Last Tuesday, at about 3 pm the terrorists reportedly laid ambush on the highway along with a notorious terrorist crossing point near the Tamsukawu bridge and abducted travellers.
The incident took place near a bridge between Tamsukawu and Ngamdu town.
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