Nigerian army says it foils attack, kills over 60 terrorists in northeast

ISTANBUL

The Nigerian army said it foiled an early Wednesday assault by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the northeastern state of Borno, killing more than 60 fighters, including senior terrorists.

The coordinated attack occurred around 12:50 a.m. local time (2350 GMT Tuesday) in Mallam Fatori and was aimed at breaching the 68 Battalion’s defensive position, the army said on the US social media platform X.

The militants, advancing from the Duguri area, were supported by several armed drones, the army said.

As the remaining fighters retreated toward Arege, Nigerian troops launched a pursuit operation backed by surveillance assets to track and prevent regrouping.

The attack followed a recent wave of violence by suspected Boko Haram militants that killed at least 23 people and injured more than 100 in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.

Nigeria has long struggled with attacks by armed groups, including extremists group Boko Haram and its offshoot ISWAP, in various parts of the country.

The government has taken steps to address the threat, including deploying troops and working with international partners such as the United States on technical support and intelligence sharing.

However, the security situation remains challenging, with overlapping threats from armed criminal gangs and insurgent groups.