Major Islamist terror attack stopped in Nigeria

Over 80 militants, including three senior commanders, were killed

Nigerian troops repelled a large-scale attack by Islamic terrorists in the country’s northeast, killing more than 80 militants, including three senior commanders, the army reported on Wednesday.

The assault targeted positions in Mallam Fatori, a town near the border with Niger in Borno State, where militants launched a five-pronged attack from multiple directions in the early hours of Wednesday, according to the statement.

“The terrorists, who advanced in large numbers on foot and deployed armed drones in a desperate bid to breach the defences of locations of troops, particularly along the frontage of Bravo Company from the Duguri general area, were met with overwhelming resistance,” the Nigerian army said.

The country’s forces, with the support of air strikes, forced militants to retreat. Among those killed were three senior commanders, described as “key figures” behind the operation. 

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Weapons recovered from the scene included assault rifles, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, improvised explosive devices, and components of armed drones, the military said.

Four Nigerian soldiers were wounded in the fighting and are receiving treatment.

In a separate statement issued hours later, Nigeria’s military said more than 200 militants had been killed in recent operations across the country.

Earlier this month, multiple suicide bombings struck the northeastern city of Maiduguri, killing at least 23 people and wounding more than 100. The blasts targeted crowded locations, including markets and a hospital entrance during the evening. No group has yet claimed responsibility.

Both incidents occurred in a region at the heart of a long-running insurgency by Boko Haram and its rival offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which operates across Borno State.

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The insurgency in northeast Nigeria, launched by Boko Haram in 2009, has killed thousands and displaced around 2 million people. Violence has persisted despite military efforts, with Islamist militants continuing to target both civilians and security forces. Nigeria declared a national security emergency in November, while foreign partners, including the US, have stepped up support against Islamic State-linked fighters.