The military on Saturday averted what could have been a major tragedy, as it foiled an attack by Islamic State’s West Africa militant group on an election collation centre for the governorship and state Assembly elections in the Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Impeccable military sources told our correspondent that the terrorists attempted to infiltrate an army base serving as a collation centre for the elections.
Troops, according to the sources, swiftly mobilised and confronted the terrorists, killing 60 of them in a fierce duel.
It was learnt that the terrorists stormed Mafa town in gun trucks and motorcycles around 2pm and headed towards the military base where collation of votes for the LGA was ongoing.
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai swiftly launched a counter-attack operation, which was supported by the Air Task Force.
Fighter jets deployed for aerial bombardment killed a large number of the fleeing terrorists, while some of them escaped with injuries.
Operation Hadin Kai Theatre Command sources confirmed that apart from the 60 copses of the terrorists, troops recovered a Hilux vehicle, several weapons and ammunition from the fleeing terrorists.
However, calls to the Director, Media Operations,Defence Headquarters, Abuja, Maj. Gen. Musa Danmadami, for comment were not picked. He had also yet to respond to a message sent to him on the matter as of press time.
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