ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigerian troops have killed 34 Islamist militants in a gunfight in Borno State after repelling an ambush on Saturday, military authorities said. Six soldiers were killed in the encounter.
The clash occurred in Sabon Gari village when insurgents attacked a military unit returning to base. The militants, identified as members of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), were armed and traveling on motorcycles and trucks equipped with mounted guns, according to Major-General Edward Buba, the military spokesperson.
Reinforcements from the Civilian Joint Taskforce and local vigilante groups supported the troops, who successfully repelled the attackers. The Nigerian Air Force conducted airstrikes on the retreating insurgents, inflicting additional casualties.
Buba also reported that a vigilante commander sustained injuries from an improvised explosive device (IED) during the engagement.
Nigeria has faced a 16-year insurgency in the northeast, primarily driven by Boko Haram and ISWAP, which has caused extensive human and economic losses and a widespread humanitarian crisis.
