Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have repelled a major attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Kukawa, Borno State, with the Nigerian Army saying more than 25 terrorists were killed in the ensuing battle.
The attack was launched against troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion from four different directions, but the soldiers mounted a counter-offensive with support from the Air Component, forcing the attackers to retreat.
The Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
Goni said an initial assessment showed that more than 25 terrorists had been neutralised, while 14 bodies had so far been recovered from the area.
Six AK-47 rifles, alongside other arms and ammunition, were also recovered during the search of the area after the fighting.
The military said troops were continuing to comb the area in search of additional weapons and pursuing fleeing terrorists to prevent them from regrouping.
But the encounter was not without a heavy price for the troops, as some Nigerian soldiers were also killed during the operation.
The Nigerian Army expressed condolences to the families of the fallen personnel, acknowledging their sacrifice in the fight against terrorism in the North-East.
The latest clash is part of continuing military operations against terrorist groups in Borno and other parts of the North-East, where troops have maintained patrols and offensive operations aimed at disrupting insurgent activities.
The Army said it would continue to work with other security agencies to track fleeing fighters, dismantle terrorist networks and protect communities in the region.
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