SaharaReporters reports that three Nigerian soldiers have been killed in Borno State.
They were reportedly killed while 10 others sustained various degrees of injury on Sunday while repelling an attack on their convoy by the Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the Northeast of Abadam in Borno State.
According to a counterinsurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, the troops who were part of clearance operation against the terror group comprising Sector 3 and Sector 4 Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), came under attack by a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) while advancing towards ISWAP camp in Tunbum Reza.
The intelligence source said that the joint troops responded with superior firepower and successfully fought off the ambush, but that one of the VBIED hit an MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle belonging to Nigérienne Republic troops of Sector 4 MNJTF while the other hit a Hilux truck.
According to the source, the terrorists also suffered significant casualties, although the exact number is yet to be determined.
“This attack comes in less than 24 hours after the troops thwarted a similar attack in Arege resulting in the killing of 10 ISWAP terrorists and the destruction of their three vehicles.
“The ISWAP terrorist made an audacious attempt to infiltrate the advancing troops’ harbor using a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), but was instantly naturalized,” he said.
It was gathered that the wounded troops were rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.