Troops of the 25 Task Force Brigade have repelled a heavy ambush by terrorists around Wajiroko in the Azir-Multe area of Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State.
The soldiers were returning from a routine patrol near the fringes of the Sambisa Forest when insurgents opened fire, prompting a fierce exchange.
The patrol team, led by the Commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier General M. Uba, included soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force.
Despite the intensity of the attack, the troops fought their way out, forcing the insurgents to retreat.
According to the Nigerian Army, four personnel—two soldiers and two CJTF members—lost their lives during the confrontation.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, praised the soldiers for their bravery and dismissed circulating claims that the Brigade Commander had been abducted.
“The narrative being circulated online alleging the abduction of the Brigade Commander is false,” Anele said. “The public is advised to disregard such misinformation.”
She added that the Army “commiserates with the families and associates of the fallen heroes who paid the supreme price in service to the nation.”
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, also lauded the troops’ conduct, describing their resilience as exemplary.
“Their uncommon bravery and sacrifice in one of the most dangerous theatres of conflict is a powerful reminder of what our gallant men and women endure daily to keep Nigeria safe,” Shaibu said.
He called for continued support and prayers for the troops as operations against insurgents persist across the North-East.
