In the early hours of Sunday, a fierce gun battle broke out in Izge village, located in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, as Boko Haram insurgents launched a deadly attack on a military formation.
The assault, which began around 1:00 a.m., resulted in the deaths of a Nigerian Army Captain and a Corporal, alongside several terrorists who were neutralized during the encounter.
According to credible local sources, the terrorists stormed the area heavily armed, using Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) to target the platoon base of Operation Hadin Kai, a military task force combating insurgency in the North East. The ensuing confrontation lasted for several hours as the troops stood their ground against the attackers.
Local vigilantes, hunters, and brave residents of Izge reportedly joined forces with the soldiers, helping to push back the insurgents after intense firefighting. Their intervention played a significant role in thwarting the enemy’s advance and minimizing further casualties.
Izge, which lies within the notorious Sambisa Forest and approximately 20 kilometers southwest of Gwoza town, remains a strategic location often targeted by insurgents. Sunday’s attack is the latest in a string of similar assaults in the region. Just two weeks earlier, Boko Haram elements had carried out raids on military formations in Wajirko (Damboa LGA) and Wulgo (Gamboru Ngala LGA), resulting in heavy casualties among troops.
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South and hails from the affected region, condemned the persistent insurgent attacks. In a statement, he called for a more proactive and technologically advanced approach to tackling insecurity in the North East.
“The military is doing its best, but it’s clear that more needs to be done. We urge the Federal Government to deploy advanced military technology, including drones, to effectively combat Boko Haram and end this over-decade-long crisis,” Senator Ndume stated.
He also praised the courage and resilience of Izge residents who stood alongside the troops. “The support of the local population was instrumental in repelling the terrorists and recovering arms looted by the attackers. Their bravery deserves commendation,” he added.
Residents described the chaotic scenes as the village came under siege in the dead of night. “We were asleep when the gunfire began. It was terrifying. A Captain and a Corporal lost their lives in the gun battle, but many of the terrorists were also killed,” said Mallam Isa Usman Izge, a community member who spoke to our correspondent on Monday.
He added that some insurgents managed to evacuate the bodies of their dead comrades as they retreated. As of Monday, local hunters and vigilantes were still combing nearby bushes in search of fleeing insurgents.
Efforts to get official confirmation from the Borno State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso, went unanswered at press time. However, the Chairman of Gwoza LGA, Hon. Abba Kawu Idrissa Timta, confirmed the incident, stating that although he had not received a full briefing on military casualties, numerous Boko Haram fighters were killed.
Senator Ndume, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Army, reiterated his call for the government to focus on TEAM—Training, Equipping, Arming, and Motivating—security forces to effectively tackle terrorism, banditry, and other criminal threats plaguing the North East and other parts of the country.
