Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a robust response to a daring insurgent assault, Nigerian troops successfully repelled an attack by fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) at Azir in Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State, military sources confirmed. The operation dealt a heavy blow to the militants, forcing surviving assailants to flee and significantly degrading their capacity to launch further offensives in the volatile region.
The clash, which unfolded in the early hours of Friday, saw ISWAP combatants attempting to overrun a defensive position held by troops deployed as part of Operation HADIN KAI, the Nigerian military’s long-running counter-insurgency campaign in the North East. Nigerian Army units held firm under intense pressure, repelling the assault and preventing the insurgents from breaching the defensive perimeter.
Crucially, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) provided precision close-air support for ground forces. As assailants withdrew along identified escape routes, aircraft tracked and engaged fleeing militants, executing strikes that resulted in further casualties among ISWAP ranks and disrupting their operational cohesion. Military spokespeople highlighted that this coordinated air–ground effort magnified the impact of the defence, extending battlefield pressure beyond the immediate contact area.
Although troops faced heavy fire, including strikes from rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) that damaged some military vehicles, they maintained control of the position and prevented any territorial loss. The soldiers’ resilience under fire was credited with stalling ISWAP’s advance and blunting their offensive momentum.
Following the engagement, troops conducted exploitation operations, securing a cache of arms and ammunition abandoned by the retreating insurgents. Recovered items included improvised explosive devices (IEDs), live rounds of ammunition, and other insurgent paraphernalia, which security officials described as critical evidence of the militants’ intent and capability.
Military sources have characterised the outcome of the confrontation as a significant operational setback for ISWAP in the Damboa area. The insurgent group’s inability to secure key positions, coupled with the losses inflicted by airstrikes during the withdrawal phase, is expected to degrade its capacity to mount large-scale coordinated attacks in the immediate future.
The engagement at Azir comes amid ongoing offensive and defensive actions by Nigerian security forces targeting entrenched insurgent networks in Borno and neighbouring states. Authorities continue to frame such operations as part of a broader strategy to deny terrorists freedom of movement, protect civilian populations, and restore stability to communities long plagued by violence and displacement.
While official casualty figures for the militants were not released publicly at the time of reporting, military statements emphasised that evidence collected on the ground and through aerial reconnaissance pointed to heavy losses among ISWAP fighters. The operation’s success has been cited by senior commanders as indicative of improving coordination between the armed forces’ land and air components, which remains central to counter-insurgency efforts across northeastern Nigeria.
As the situation evolves, troops remain deployed in the area and will likely maintain heightened vigilance across vulnerable corridors to guard against retaliatory attacks or renewed insurgent movements. The Nigerian Air Force has reaffirmed its commitment to providing decisive support to ground forces, leveraging intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms to locate and engage hostile elements effectively.
The engagement at Azir highlights the persistent threat posed by ISWAP and affiliated groups in the Lake Chad Basin and underscores the challenges confronting Nigerian security services in a protracted conflict environment. However, it also reflects the gains being made through sustained pressure on militant infrastructures, systematic disruption of planned operations, and an integrated approach that combines air power with ground offensives.
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