Troops of the 162 Amphibious Battalion, operating under Operation Hadin Kai, have repelled an overnight assault by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters on the Forward Operating Base in Mandaragirau, Borno State.

The attack reportedly occurred around 2 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, when the terrorists approached the military position from two directions, according to security sources.

The troops, who were reportedly on alert, engaged the attackers as soon as they were detected. The battalion commander subsequently mobilised reinforcement for ambush teams positioned along suspected routes of terrorist movement.

The ensuing gun battle forced the insurgents to retreat from one of the attack fronts. Another group reportedly attempted to gain access to the base through the riverine route after avoiding the troops’ ambush positions, but they were also repelled.

The terrorists subsequently fled the area as troops pursued them. However, the pursuit was suspended because of limited visibility and the difficult terrain, with further operations expected to resume at daybreak.

No troop casualties were reported, while the extent of casualties suffered by the attackers remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, troops carrying out a clearance operation along the Mandaragirau-Kana axis later discovered and neutralised a command-detonated improvised explosive device believed to have been planted to target military reinforcements.

The device was reportedly located near a bridge along the route and was safely detonated by the clearance team before it could be activated.

During the same operation, troops also recovered the remains of a civilian believed to have been killed by another IED planted by the terrorists. The body was found close to the site of the explosion.

Security personnel are continuing clearance operations in the area, while authorities are expected to provide further details, including photographic documentation, after the ongoing assessment of the axis is completed.

The security situation in the area remains calm but volatile as troops maintain operations against the fleeing terrorists.