On Thursday, July 20, 2023, a clash occurred between fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Nigerian Army troops in Borno State. The encounter took place in the Monguno Local Government Area, where the terrorists were engaged by troops from the Sector 3 multi-national joint task force (MNJTF).
According to Zagazola Makama, a renowned counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, the ISWAP insurgents invaded the area in multiple Hilux trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns. Some of the terrorists rode motorcycles, while others on foot attacked the troops stationed at Charlie 6 in Monguno town.
Despite their initial aggression, the terrorists were eventually forced to retreat and flee the location after facing resistance from the army troops.
In another incident, over 100 troops conducted a raid on bandits’ hideouts in Iche, Taka-Lafiya, Gidan Makeri, and Janjala communities in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The bandits had fled the far north and were attempting to set up camp around some villages in Kagarko. However, upon the arrival of the troops, the bandits escaped into the forest.
Nigerian Army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the operation in Kagarko on Wednesday and stated that no informants were arrested during the raid.
In recent times, the Nigerian Army has been intensifying efforts to combat terrorists in various regions of the country, particularly in the Northern areas. These clashes demonstrate the ongoing challenges in the fight against insurgency and the army’s commitment to maintaining security and stability in affected regions.
