Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, fighters have hastily evacuated at least 15 dead bodies of their comrades after a failed midnight assault on New Marte in Borno State.
Zagazola Makama, a counter insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, made this known in a post on his X account on Tuesday.
Makama disclosed he was informed by impeccable sources that the insurgents, on about 20 motorcycles had launched a coordinated attack on troops in New Marte at about 1:35 a.m. on Tuesday.
According to the report, the insurgents arrived on motorcycles and with a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), apparently aimed at breaching the battalion’s defences.
However, the terrorists were overwhelmed by the combined firepower of Nigerian troops under Operation Hadin Kai, supported by the Nigerian Air Force Air Component.
“The VBIED, meant to cause maximum damage, was abandoned by the terrorists as they fled under sustained fire and aerial bombardment,” Makama added.