Nigerian troops under Operation Hadin Kai repelled a major assault by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants early Friday in Damboa, Borno State. The attack, launched around 1 a.m., was met with swift resistance from ground troops supported by the Nigerian Air Force, according to a military statement.

The militants had targeted the 25 Task Force Brigade and the Azir Bridge axis in a coordinated assault aimed at destabilizing the military presence in southern Borno.

The Army confirmed that 16 terrorists were killed in the ensuing two-hour firefight. Several other militants reportedly fled with injuries. Tragically, two Nigerian soldiers were killed in the exchange.

The confrontation also triggered an explosion at a nearby ammunition storage facility, resulting in a fire that damaged two military structures before it was contained.

Military officials stated that follow-up clearance operations are underway to locate and neutralize the fleeing insurgents. Damboa, a strategic town frequently targeted by ISWAP, remains a hotspot in Nigeria’s broader counterterrorism efforts.

The Army reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing offensive operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and restoring security across Nigeria's northeastern region.