Seven soldiers escape bomb attack, as troops avert ISWAP operations in Borno, Yobe

By Matthew Eloyi

Ambush attacks on vehicles and commuters were averted by Operation ‘Hadin Kai’ troops in Borno and Yobe states in northeast Nigeria on Saturday.

The attacks, which took place on two highways in Borno State, were carried out by Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists (ISWAP).

According to reports, the jihadists set up various checkpoints at Banki Junction in order to capture residents in the Bama local government region of the state.

It was gathered that mobile troops from the 151 Task Force Battalion, who were on patrol in the region, stopped the terrorists’ operation shortly after responding to a distress call.

According to a military officer, ISWAP members who had been holding several citizens hostage on the route fled when they saw approaching soldiers, abandoning their captives.

He said a gunshot shattered one of the commercial cars’ rear screens, but no one was hurt.

On a separate patrol along the Bula Yobe – Darel Jamel road on Sunday, troops from the 152 Battalion reacted to a distress call regarding another ISWAP attack on motorists.

Meanwhile, seven Nigerian soldiers escaped bomb assaults after colliding with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) put by ISWAP terrorists along the Maiduguri-Damboa road.

When the event occurred, the troops were on a long-range patrol to protect passengers, according to an intelligence source.

“The soldiers from the 134 Special Forces Battalion 7 Division Garrison Maiduguri were escorting commuters when their vehicle stepped on the IED planted along the route in Delwa – Bulabulin, Damboa Local Government Area on Saturday.

“No fatality was recorded during the incident but 7 soldiers’ sustained injuries and evacuated to Maiduguri for prompt medical attention,” the source said.