The Nigerian Army, in a joint operation with Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets on Wednesday killed over 50 Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Damboa, about 100 kilometres from the Borno State capital, Maiduguri.
The terrorists had on Wednesday morning invaded Damboa at about 10.30am, throwing the town into confusion.
Nigerian Army Spokesperson, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, said in a statement on Wednesday night that the terrorists attacked Damboa in multiple waves with Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), 12 Gun Trucks all mounted with Anti-Aircraft Guns as well as Locally Fabricated Armoured-plated Vehicles loaded with explosives and motorcycles.
According to the statement by General Yerima, “Nigerian Army troops operating as part of Operation Hadin Kai in conjunction with Air Component of the Operation have today Wednesday 2 June 2021 inflicted heavy casualty on Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) Terrorists group who launched a futile attack on Damboa LGA of Borno State.
“The terrorists attacked the town in multiple waves with Armoured Personnel Carriers and 12 Gun Trucks all mounted with Anti Aircraft Guns, as well as Locally Fabricated Armoured-plated Vehicles loaded with explosives and motorcycles.
“The gallant troops successfully defeated the attack, destroyed the locally fabricated armoured-plated vehicles and neutralised over 50 ISWAP terrorists forcing the survivors to run in disarray under heavy gun fire from the resilient troops and Nigerian Air Force attack platforms.
“The so-called suicide bombers had to abandon their vehicles primed with explosives as they could not withstand the overwhelming fire power from the highly motivated troops. Several weapons and ammunitions were recovered from the depleted terrorists.
“The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Faruk Yahaya congratulated the troops including the Air Component for this great achievement. The COAS restated the commitment of the Nigerian Army under his leadership to ending terrorism and other violent crimes in the North East and the rest of the country. He further enjoined the troops to sustain the ongoing offensive under Operation Tura Takaibango until this noble goal is attained.”
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.