The Nigerian army troops of operation Hadin Kai have frustrated an attempt to attack repentant insurgents in Damboa LGA of Borno State by the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP). This was revealed in a statement released on Sunday and signed by Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, who said the terrorists made a futile attempt to access the facility housing the surrendered Boko Haram members but retreated when confronted with the superior firepower of Nigerian troops. Nwachukwu said the attempted attack by ISWAP was to discourage the terrorists who had recently surrendered to the troops. “The Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), confronted with the obvious reality of defeat embarked on a desperate move to undermine the unprecedented depletion in its fighting force, have resorted to attacks on surrendered Boko Haram members and their families,” the statement reads. “This antic of terror within terror is being employed by ISWAP to discourage intending surrendering terrorists in their ranks. The latest strategy is not unconnected with the frustration of the group as top-ranking commanders and members denounce violent agitation to embrace peace in recent times.
According to Nwachukwu the apprehension might have led ISWAP on Saturday, 2 October 2021 to embark on a mission to annihilate or capture BHTs, who surrendered in Damboa. The gallant troops of 25 Task Force Brigade Operation HADIN KAI whose superior firepower forced the terrorists to withdraw in disarray, ensured Damboa did not fall to their antics.
“The Nigerian Army (NA) wishes to reassure the good people of Damboa and environs to go about their normal businesses as vigilant troops would proactively continue to provide security of lives and property. The general public is also enjoined to provide actionable and timely information on the activities of these criminal elements and their collaborators.”
He said Faruk Yahaya, chief of army staff, charged the troops to take the fight to the “terrorists’ enclaves to deny them freedom of action”.
