An intercepted communication among members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has reportedly confirmed the loss of 23 fighters during a recent encounter with Nigerian Special Forces in Sambisa Forest.
Intelligence sources said the message, sent by an ISWAP associate to an unidentified contact, revealed that Nigerian troops carried out sustained military operations in the forest for about a week.
During the operation, the source said soldiers destroyed insurgent assets and burned down the village of Allafawa, which was reportedly used by the group.
Despite the losses, some ISWAP members were said to still be hiding within parts of the forest.
Troops operating in the theatre have continued aggressive patrols and intelligence-led assaults to consolidate their gains, targeting fleeing insurgents and dismantling remaining strongholds within the area.
Security officials stressed that sustaining the current operational tempo is crucial to further weaken the terrorists and prevent them from regrouping in the forest.
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