By Olayemi Esan
Troops of the Nigerian Army under Sector 3 of Operation Hadin Kai have once again dealt a crushing blow to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists following a failed attempt to overrun the strategic town of Mairari, located along the Monguno–Maiduguri highway in northern Borno State.
The latest encounter occurred on the evening of 12 December, when a large number of heavily armed ISWAP fighters launched a coordinated assault on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mairari, recently established to secure the area and facilitate the return of displaced residents.
Security sources confirmed that the terrorists advanced toward the town with machine guns and two heavily armoured Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs) in a desperate bid to breach the defensive perimeter and halt the ongoing resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
However, the attack was decisively repelled as troops of FOB Mairari responded with well-coordinated and sustained firepower, leading to the destruction of both VBIEDs before they could reach their targets. Several terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, while no casualties were recorded among the troops.
Military sources described the operation as another testament to the growing dominance of troops in the theatre of operations, particularly in areas previously considered strongholds of insurgent elements.
The establishment of FOB Mairari forms part of a broader operational strategy by Operation Hadin Kai to reclaim communities along critical routes, deny terrorists freedom of movement, and restore normalcy to displaced populations.
In recent months, sustained offensive operations by the Nigerian Armed Forces have led to the successful clearance and restoration of several towns in northern Borno, including Kukawa, Duji, and Kekeno, enabling thousands of residents to return to their ancestral homes after years of displacement.
Military authorities reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining pressure on terrorist elements until all affected communities are fully secured and lasting peace is restored across the North East.
By SpyeTV
