Two Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets have joined in the fight alongside the Nigerian Army ground troops currently fighting the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) Damboa, about 100 kilometres Borno State capital, Maiduguri.
Maiduguri is also the epicentre of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism in Northeast Nigeria.
The terrorists had on Wednesday morning invaded Damboa, which is located along the Gombe-Maidiguri-Numan highway, attacking the Army base in the town.
The invasion, which threw the town into confusion started at about 10.30am when they drove in with dozens of gun trucks and motor cycles.
Damboa has been under Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks since the start of the insurgency in the Northeast region of Nigeria.
It was one of the town taken over effortlessly by the terrorists such that as at May 28, 2014, most of the communities like Talasla, Ajigin, Mangozam, Abima, Abulam, Keloruwa; all within Damboa Local Government Area were under the control of Boko Haram terrorists.
On June 25, 2014, the terrorists attacked a Bulabulin Ngaura and on June 26, 2014, then Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, “ordered an investigation into alleged abduction of 60 women by suspected insurgents in Damboa Local Government Area,” especially in the villages of Kummabza, Yaga and Dagu.
On July 18, 2014, Boko Haram attacked Damboa, leaving”at least 18 dead.” The terrorists allegedly burnt half of Damboa down, including the town’s main market.
As of 19 October 2014, the town was under Boko Haram control. But on October 21, the Nigerian Army troops backed with airpower, killed 35 terrorists as they attacked the then 195 Battalion of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army located in the town.
Since then, the terrorists have repeatedly been attacking Damboa but the town has consistently remained under the control of the Nigerian government.
