AfriPulse
A convoy of soldiers and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) personnel came under attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters around 5 p.m. on Friday near Sabon Gari in Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State, northeastern Nigeria,
The assailants, reportedly lying in ambush along the route, opened fire on the mixed convoy, killing two soldiers and two CJTF members.
A CJTF source stationed in Nzula, close to the attack site, told HumAngle that the convoy was moving toward Bongry along Biu Road when it was intercepted.
A local resident familiar with the convoy’s movements said it had departed Damboa around 2 p.m. with two Hilux vehicles, two armoured personnel carriers, and several motorcycles.
“The terrorists killed two soldiers and two CJTF members. They also took some motorcycles,” the resident said. Reinforcements comprising two Hilux vehicles and two armoured personnel carriers later departed Damboa after the ambush.
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The incident took a more concerning turn with the temporary disappearance of a Brigade Commander who was part of the operation. A senior CJTF member in Damboa, who witnessed the convoy’s departure, confirmed that the commander went missing during the attack but remained in contact via WhatsApp messages.
After several hours, the officer returned on foot, an escape described as a narrow evasion of the attackers.
This marks the first time in Nigeria’s ongoing counterinsurgency campaign that a serving General actively deployed on the frontline was temporarily unaccounted for following an ambush.
The incident has raised alarm over the sophistication of recent ISWAP attacks and the heightened risks faced by senior officers in volatile areas.
Damboa and neighbouring communities have endured repeated insurgent assaults in recent months, including ambushes on patrols, attacks on rural roads, and raids on farming settlements. Residents say the latest attack highlights the persistent insecurity along key transport routes despite sustained military operations.
Source: RipplesNigeria | Read the Full Story…
