This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Lt. Col. Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East).
Uba said the troops of the 120 Task Force Battalion, Goniri, successfully contained and repelled the attacks launched by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
He explained that the attacks occurred between the night of March 9 and the early hours of March 10, when the troops came under assault from multiple directions.
According to him, the terrorists were initially detected through surveillance assets approaching the military location simultaneously from Goniri village and Ngamdu junction in an attempt to encircle the camp.
“The gallant troops responded with exceptional manoeuvre and firepower, coordinating their defensive actions while reinforcements and the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI provided timely and decisive air support,” he said.
Uba said the terrorists were met with overwhelming resistance and were forced to withdraw after suffering heavy casualties.
He said that more than 20 terrorists were neutralised during the firefight, including a senior commander identified as Abu Yusuf
“Several terrorist bodies were left behind, while troops recovered weapons and equipment abandoned during the retreat, including machine guns, AK-47 rifles, bombs and assorted ammunition of various calibre,” he said.
The spokesman said additional bodies were recovered during follow-up patrols conducted in the general area of Gwaigomari within the Timbuktu Triangle up to the early hours of March 11.
He noted that some sections of the defensive perimeter at the military base were temporarily breached, while structures and vehicles within the camp sustained damage due to the intensity of the attack.
Uba said injured troops were evacuated and are in stable condition receiving treatment.
He emphasised that the location remained firmly under the control of Operation HADIN KAI troops as the ground forces, supported by the air component, conduct follow-up operations and search missions in neighbouring communities where some wounded terrorists were believed to be hiding.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Operation HADIN KAI to the total defeat of the terrorist groups operating in the North-East region.
NAN
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