Troops of the 28 Task Force Brigade, Sector 4, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), on Saturday repelled a major attack by ISWAP/Boko Haram gunmen in Chibok, Borno State, before Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrikes neutralised many of the fleeing fighters.
According to field reports, the terrorists—estimated at more than 300—launched a coordinated, multi-directional assault on the community around 3:00 a.m., attempting to breach military positions and overwhelm deployed personnel.
A security source told Zagazola that the troops swiftly countered the attack with superior firepower and organised manoeuvres, engaging the attackers for nearly two hours until they retreated toward the Timbuktu Triangle.
“The troops were alert and professionally contained the situation. There were no casualties on our side and no equipment was affected,” the source said.
Following the withdrawal, ground forces requested air support, prompting the rapid deployment of NAF combat aircraft to the terrorists’ escape route.
The source said NAF fighter jets carried out four targeted airstrikes, guided by real-time intelligence from ground troops, striking clusters of fleeing terrorists attempting to regroup. Additional strikes pursued others dispersing into nearby forest areas.
It was also confirmed that an unmanned aerial platform conducted further precision engagements after maintaining continuous surveillance over the withdrawal corridor.
The coordinated air and ground response, according to security officials, inflicted substantial losses on the attackers and disrupted their ability to reorganise after the failed offensive.
