Suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have killed a soldier, set ablaze a police outpost, a primary healthcare centre and two classrooms, when they attacked a military base in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State,
Penpushing reports that the military and local residents said that attack was at a Forward Operating Base in the local government area on late Tuesday night amid ongoing military operations against insurgents across the North-East.
The Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant-Colonel Mohammed Goni, in a statement on Thursday said troops deployed at the Forward Operating Base successfully repelled what he described as a coordinated attack.
Penpushing further reports that Gomi said, the attackers briefly breached part of the base’s defensive perimeter during the fighting, adding that the troops regrouped and forced them to retreat after inflicting casualties, , a lieutenant-colonel, said.
“Regrettably, one gallant soldier paid the supreme sacrifice, while two gun trucks and some combat enablers sustained damage during the engagement,” the statement said.
Penpushing also reports that Goni added that reinforcements had since been deployed to the base while exploitation operations and measures to strengthen its defences were ongoing.
The residents, said the attackers in same vein, destroyed public facilities after the confrontation with troops, adding that the gunmen entered the community after the fighting and set fire to a police outpost, a primary healthcare centre and two classrooms
“We all left the community during the attack. The terrorists were very sophisticated. After they overpowered the Army, they entered the school and burnt down two classrooms. They also attacked a police outpost and a hospital, which they burnt down,” the resident said.
Penpushing reports that a local security source stated that a combined team of soldiers, police officers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force pursued the fleeing attackers after the assault.
The Chairman of Ngala Local Government Area, Mala Ngala, visited Logomani on Wednesday to assess the destruction, and during the visit, he inspected the burnt police outpost, primary healthcare centre and classrooms.
Penpushing further reports that Ngala said the findings would be forwarded to the Borno State Government for intervention, and appealed to residents to remain calm and continue cooperating with security agencies.
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