At least 34 Boko Haram and ISWAP militants were killed in a fierce gun battle with Nigerian troops in Sabon Gari village, Borno state, according to the Nigerian military. The clash, which occurred Saturday, also claimed the lives of six soldiers.
Major-General Edward Buba, a military spokesperson, reported on Wednesday that the ambush took place as troops were returning to their base. The insurgents, traveling on motorcycles and trucks equipped with mounted guns, launched the attack but were successfully repelled by Nigerian forces.
Reinforcements from the Civilian Joint Taskforce, including vigilante groups, played a crucial role in the counteroffensive, Buba said. The Nigerian Air Force conducted airstrikes targeting fleeing insurgents, inflicting additional casualties beyond the 34 militants killed in ground combat.
Nigeria has been battling a 16-year insurgency led by Boko Haram and its splinter group, ISWAP, which has resulted in extensive human and economic losses, mass displacement, and a deepening humanitarian crisis in the northeast.
Buba also confirmed that six soldiers lost their lives in the clash, while the vigilante commander sustained injuries from an improvised explosive device (IED). The military emphasized its commitment to restoring peace and stability in the troubled region.