Troops Kill Scores As Boko Haram, ISWAP Fighters Attack Naval Base In Lake Chad

Dozens of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters were eliminated on Tuesday during a failed attempt to infiltrate the Nigerian Navy base at the Lake Chad Fish Dam in Borno State.

The insurgents launched the coordinated attack around 2:00 a.m., targeting newly acquired swamp bogeys procured by the Borno State Government to aid waterway clearance in the Lake Chad region.

Security sources said troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in a joint land, maritime and air operation, engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun duel that lasted more than two hours. The assault was repelled with heavy resistance from naval personnel at the base, supported by reinforcements from Baga.

Though the insurgents failed to breach the facility or destroy the swamp bogeys, the attack led to the destruction of an ambulance and two other vehicles. A number of personnel also sustained injuries during the encounter.

The air component of the operation has since commenced a follow-up pursuit along the waterways to eliminate fleeing insurgents and recover weapons and explosives left behind.

Military authorities have yet to provide an official casualty figure but confirmed that dozens of the attackers were killed, while improvised explosive device, IED, components were recovered at the scene.