ISWAP death toll rises to 75 after devastating defeat in Malam Fatori

By: Zagazola Makama

The death toll of terrorists neutralised during a failed infiltration attempt on troops’ position in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area of Borno, has risen to 75, in what security analysts describe as one of the most decisive recent blows against the Islamic State West Africa Province.

Zagazola report that the Initial reports had put the number of insurgents killed at 61, following a coordinated response by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, supported by the Nigerian Air Force.

However, updated battlefield assessments and mop-up operations indicate that at least 75 fighters were neutralised, with several others believed to have escaped with severe injuries.

The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, saw ISWAP fighters advancing on foot toward the 68 Battalion location, reportedly deploying armed drones in an attempt to breach defensive lines. The infiltration, launched from the Duguri axis toward the Bravo Company frontage, was swiftly detected and repelled.

Military sources said the success of the operation was anchored on superior coordination between air and ground forces, illustrating the growing effectiveness of joint-force synergy in counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.

Four precision air interdiction strikes were conducted on identified terrorist withdrawal routes effectively degrading their combat capability and disrupting their manoeuvre.

The integration of air power ensured that the insurgents were fixed in position and subjected to sustained bombardment, forcing a chaotic withdrawal toward the Arege axis.

Further compounding the losses of the terrorists group was the intervention of allied air assets from the Niger Republic, which carried out additional strike passes on fleeing terrorists.Although a full battle damage assessment of those strikes is still ongoing, security sources believe the combined firepower significantly increased the casualty figures.

In addition to the high number of fatalities, troops reportedly recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from the battlefield, further weakening the operational capacity of the group in the Lake Chad region.

On the side of government forces, four soldiers sustained minor injuries and have since been stabilised.

ISWAP death toll rises to 75 after devastating defeat in Malam Fatori

3 bandits, 11 community guards killed in bloody clash in Katsina

By: Zagazola Makama

No fewer than three suspected bandits and 11 members of a local vigilante group have been killed in a violent clash between communities and repentant bandits in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, followed the collapse of a peace arrangement between residents of Falale and Kadobe villages and a group of repentant bandits operating in the area.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the confrontation began at about 12:00 p.m. when tensions escalated into a fierce exchange, leading to the killing of three of the bandits.

The development, however, triggered a swift reprisal attack by the armed group, resulting in the deaths of 11 vigilante members drawn from the affected communities.

The Katsina State Police Command confirmed the incident, noting that security operatives were immediately deployed to the scene upon receipt of the report.

Similarly, a joint teams of the troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA, police and other security agencies engaged community leaders and stakeholders to de-escalate the situation and prevent further violence.

“Normalcy has been restored in the area, while investigation into the incident has commenced,” the sources said.

The clash is believed to be linked to a breakdown in trust between the communities and the repentant bandits, amid ongoing efforts by the state government to explore non-kinetic approaches to addressing insecurity in parts of the state.

Residents said the situation remains tense, although security presence has been reinforced to forestall further attacks.

3 bandits, 11 community guards killed in bloody clash in Katsina

Nigerian Military eliminate 61 terrorists in Malam Fatori, Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Army troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in close coordination with, The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has neutralised no fewer than 61 ISWAP terrorists during a foiled infiltration attempt in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area of Borno.

Sources involved in the operation disclosed that the terrorists launched the attack in the early hours of Wednesday, advancing on foot and deploying armed drones in a desperate bid to breach the defences of troops at the 68 Battalion location.

The sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack, which came through the frontage of Bravo Company from the Duguri general area, was met with overwhelming firepower and superior coordination between ground forces and air components.

The sources explained that troops, supported by precision air strikes, engaged the insurgents in a fierce battle that resulted in heavy casualties on the side of the terrorists.

According to him, the integration of air and ground manoeuvre ensured that the terrorists were fixed, targeted and neutralised in large numbers.

“Our forces executed four highly effective air interdiction strikes on identified enemy concentrations, decimating their fighting capability. The synergy between air and land forces denied the terrorists freedom of movement and forced a disorderly withdrawal towards the Arege general area after suffering heavy casualties,” he said

The sources noted that additional strike support from allied Nigerien air assets further compounded the pressure on the fleeing insurgents, although battle damage assessment from those strikes was still ongoing.

“The allied forces from neighbouring Niger Republic also conducted rapid strike passes in support of the operation, thereby compounding the pressure on the fleeing insurgents.

“On own casualties, the officer confirmed that four soldiers sustained minor injuries during the engagement and have since been stabilised.

Nigerian Military eliminate 61 terrorists in Malam Fatori, Borno