Nigerian Army troops have repelled a major attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on a military position in Kukawa, Borno State.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack happened between about 9 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The terrorists launched a coordinated assault from four different directions. The move appeared aimed at overwhelming the military position and forcing the troops to retreat.
However, soldiers of the Nigerian Army’s 101 Special Forces Battalion mounted a strong defence.
The troops also received support from the Air Component during the engagement. The combined response forced the attackers to withdraw after a prolonged exchange of fire.
Security sources said troops neutralised more than 25 terrorists during the operation.
Soldiers recovered 14 bodies from the battlefield after the fighting ended. Troops also recovered weapons and ammunition left behind by the fleeing fighters.
The recovered items reportedly included six AK-47 rifles.
The recovery of the weapons provides an indication of the intensity of the assault and the firepower carried by the attackers.
However, the military also suffered casualties during the battle. Some soldiers were killed, while others sustained injuries.
The Nigerian Army has not publicly provided a full breakdown of the military casualties linked to the attack.
Following the attack, the Brigade Commander moved to the area to coordinate the military response.
The commander is overseeing adjustments to the defensive posture around the affected position. The move also includes the replenishment of troops and equipment.
The military is also conducting further exploitation of the battlefield.
That process could help troops establish the movement routes used by the attackers and gather additional intelligence on the operation.
Kukawa lies in Borno State, one of the areas most affected by the long-running insurgency in northeastern Nigeria.
ISWAP remains one of the major armed groups operating in the region. The group has carried out attacks against military positions, security personnel and communities in parts of Borno and neighbouring areas.
Military bases and forward positions remain important targets because they support operations against insurgent groups.
The latest attack also highlights the continuing security challenge faced by troops operating in remote areas of northeastern Nigeria.
The involvement of the Air Component shows the importance of coordinated land and air operations in counter-insurgency missions.
Ground troops can engage attackers directly, while air support can provide surveillance and strike capabilities when operational conditions allow.
The combination can help troops respond to large-scale attacks and prevent armed groups from overrunning military positions.
The Kukawa attack shows that ISWAP still has the capacity to mobilise fighters for coordinated assaults despite sustained military pressure.
For the Nigerian military, defending forward positions remains critical to preventing insurgents from gaining territory and disrupting security operations.
The immediate military response will now focus on strengthening the affected position, treating injured personnel and gathering intelligence from the battlefield.
The military may also review its defensive arrangements around Kukawa to reduce the risk of another coordinated assault.
For residents of Borno and surrounding communities, the latest clash is another reminder of the continuing security risks in the northeast.
While the troops successfully repelled the attack, the reported military casualties underline the cost of the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign.
The Nigerian military will now face the task of maintaining pressure on ISWAP while protecting its personnel and securing vulnerable communities and military positions across the region.
