By Abu Faisal

In an ongoing counter-insurgency operation, troops from the 242 Battalion, Multinational Joint Task Force and Operation Hadin Kai, operating around the Lake Chad shores, have successfully cleared four settlements of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Lake Chad Basin, resulting in the death of five terrorists.

The operation, which began in Monguno on December 4, saw forces clearing ISWAP strongholds in the villages of Ngurnoa, Gumnari, Nairawa and Amburam within the Monguno Local Government Area (LGA).

According to intelligence shared with Counter-Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst, Zagazola Makama, the terrorists abandoned these settlements to evade capture or death.

Upon reaching Amburam, the troops encountered the terrorists, sparking a firefight which forced the extremists to retreat chaotically into a nearby canal.

While five terrorists were reportedly neutralized during the engagement, visual confirmation was not possible as the bodies sank beneath the water’s surface.

In the aftermath, troops recovered a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and four AK 47 magazines from a shallow section of the water body.

One soldier sustained injuries during the encounter and was promptly airlifted to the 7 DMSH in Maiduguri for further medical attention.