Nigerian Troops Repel Borno Base Attack, Eliminate 60 Insurgents – Military

Nigerian soldiers successfully repelled a terrorist assault on a military base in Bita, located in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, killing at least 60 insurgents in the process.

The Nigerian Army confirmed the development in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday morning.

“In a well-coordinated operation, courageous troops of Operation Hadin Kai executed a simultaneous land and air offensive on terrorist positions in Bita, Borno State, during the early hours of today. The intense encounter led to the neutralization of no fewer than 60 terrorists,” the statement read.

According to reports obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the attackers—believed to be Boko Haram fighters—launched a surprise attack on troops attached to the 26 Task Force Brigade, Sector One, around midnight on Friday.

Local counterinsurgency news outlet Makama Zagazola reported that the battle, supported by airstrikes, lasted until about 3:23 a.m., enabling troops to regain control and repel the attackers effectively.

This marks the second attempted assault on military bases in Borno State within the same week, both of which were thwarted by Nigerian forces. However, recent weeks have seen insurgents target multiple bases across Borno, prompting the military to reassess and adapt its strategies.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu recently stated that Nigeria’s counterinsurgency efforts have resulted in the elimination of over 13,000 terrorists in the past two years. Speaking at a summit organized by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Ribadu also disclosed that more than 120,000 insurgents and their family members have surrendered to Nigerian forces.