Nigerian troops have foiled multiple terrorist attacks targeted at soldiers and Muslim faithful while breaking the Ramadan fast at Gajiram and Damasak towns in Borno State. During the counter-terrorism operation on Tuesday night, effective close air support was provided by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft to the ground troops who were stationed at Damasak and Gajiram after they came under fire by ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorists. According to a military source, the terrorists were on a reprisal mission to avenge the loss of about 13 of their top commanders, who were killed by troops in the Lake Chad axis last week.
“The terrorists deliberately targeted their reprisal on troops and residents of the two towns in the evening at the time Muslim faithful were about to break their fast on the first day of this year’s Ramadan.
“They were angry over the recent deadly strikes conducted in Tudun Wulgo, Zari, Tumbun Alhaji, Kusuma, Sigir in Ngala and Arijallamari, in Abadam, Marte and Ngala local government areas, which resulted in the killing of top ISWAP leaders.
“Some of the commanders that were killed in the airstrikes included Mohammad Fulloja, Ameer Mallam Bello, Ba’a Kaka Tunkushe, Abu Muktar Al-Ansari, Ameer Abba Kaka, Abu Huzaifa, Ameer Modu Kwayem, while Goni Mustapha who was the Chief Imam of the ISWAP, escaped with bullet wounds,” the source said.
Before storming the two towns, the terrorists met at Garin Wanzam, where the new ISWAP commander in charge of training, Moustapah Goniri (Amirul Tadareify), directed the militants on gun trucks to launch simultaneous attacks on Damasak and Gajiram in Mobbar and Nganzai local government areas respectively.
One of the groups which attacked a military ‘Super Camp’, prompted troops to return fire. The second group attacked another position along the Maiduguri road axis, prompting troops to vacate the position, while the third group infiltrated it through the northern axis.
However, before the militants could completely gain access into the town, the Air Task Force was reinforced to engage the terrorists. Two gun trucks with scores of terrorists were destroyed and occupants killed.
“The terrorists’ incursion at Gajiram was gallantly repelled by the ground troops and right now, bodies of the terrorists are littered all over the place. The insurgents are in total disarray and could not evacuate their dead colleagues.” He added.