Nigerian Army troops have successfully disrupted an attempt by Boko Haram insurgents to plant improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on a bridge along the Dikwa–Marte road in Borno State.
The foiled attack resulted in the recovery of two large IEDs following a fierce gun battle between the troops and the terrorists.
In addition to the explosives, the army also seized several weapons, including AK-47 rifles and PKT machine guns.
The operation is part of the Nigerian military’s ongoing counterterrorism campaign under the Northeast Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, aimed at dismantling terrorist strongholds in the region.
Speaking with Channels Television, Major General Abdulsallam Abubakar, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, confirmed that troops had been executing clearance operations across major terrorist enclaves, including the Lake Chad region, Sambisa Forest, and the Mandara Mountains.
“My men have been on the offensive for weeks now, there have been operations into the Sambisa Forest and the Mandara mountains,” he stated.
Recounting the specific incident along the Dikwa–Marte road, Maj. Gen. Abubakar explained “While on a clearance along Dikwa-Marte, our troops clashed with Boko Haram trying to lay mines on a bridge, the troops immediately engaged them in a firefight forcing them to abandon the IEDs and flee.”
He added that recent offensives had led to notable progress in restoring peace in areas previously under constant threat.
“There has been some stability along the fringes of the lake Chad, the terrorists are on the run and we are chasing after them,” Abubakar said.
“We will not allow them to attack our troops again, all liberated communities will not fall into the control of the terrorists, our troops are motivated and in high spirits.”
The intensified military campaign has also resulted in the elimination of nine terrorists in separate operations carried out across Bama, Gwoza, and Konduga Local Government Areas of Borno State.
According to Abubakar, the operations are being jointly executed by the Nigerian Army on the ground, the Nigerian Navy patrolling the shores of Lake Chad, and the Nigerian Air Force providing targeted aerial support.
He emphasized that the persistent offensives have played a significant role in bolstering security in the border communities around Lake Chad.
