Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, have successfully repelled an attempted attack by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on a military formation in Banki.
The insurgents launched the assault in the early hours of Friday, advancing in large numbers in an attempt to overrun the military base.
However, troops on ground swiftly engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle, preventing them from breaching the facility.
According to the sources, while the exchange of fire was ongoing, the Nigerian Air Force deployed an aircraft to provide aerial support to the ground troops.
“On sighting the approaching aircraft, the terrorists took to their heels and were seen fleeing in disarray into nearby bushes to escape the superior firepower of the troops and the air component,” one of the sources said.
The sources added that the coordinated response by ground forces and air support forced the insurgents to abandon the attack.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, while security forces have begun assessment and clearance operations around the area.
Banki, a border town close to Cameroon, remains one of the key frontline locations in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign in Borno State.
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