Troops foil Boko Haram IED attack on strategic Borno bridge

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Hadin Kai have thwarted a deadly attempt by Boko Haram terrorists to plant improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on a vital bridge along the Dikwa–Marte road in Borno State.

According to military sources, the terrorists were intercepted during the act, sparking a fierce gunfight between the insurgents and the Nigerian forces. The operation resulted in the successful recovery of two heavy IEDs, preventing what could have been a catastrophic attack on a key transportation route in the northeast.

Speaking with Channels Television, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsallam Abubakar, said, “Within the past week, troops conducted clearance operations deep into the Lake Chad region, Sambisa Forest, and the Mandara Mountains.”

He added that the operations resulted in the killing of nine terrorists in Bama, Gwoza, and Konduga Local Government Areas of Borno State.

According to Major General Abubakar, the military’s joint operations involve coordinated efforts by the Nigerian Navy patrolling the Lake Chad shores, the Nigerian Army conducting ground operations, and the Nigerian Air Force delivering precision airstrikes.

In addition to the recovered explosives, troops also seized AK-47 rifles and PKT machine guns from the terrorists.

“The sustained offensives have significantly enhanced stability and security in border communities around the Lake Chad fringes,” the Theatre Commander said.