TheCable

No fewer than 82 Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) fighters and their families have drowned in a river in the north-east axis of Damasak in Borno state. 

Zagazola Makama, a publication focused on the Lake Chad region, reported that the terrorists and their families from the Lake Chad area drowned in an attempt to escape massive troop incursion between Friday and Saturday while trying to cross over to the Niger Republic. 

The report said the drowning, which happened in separate incidents, occured in Bulama Modori, Kaneram, Dogomolu and Jokka communities, adding that the river stretches from Komadougou Yobe into Lake Chad.

According to the report, most of those killed in the incident were women and children, noting that while many others are currently in the hospital receiving treatment, excavation of bodies is ongoing.

In another development, at least two soldiers were reportedly killed when ISWAP fighters attacked reinforced troops with a Vehicle Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) at a base in Malam Fatori in Abadam LGA of Borno.

The troops were said to be on reinforcement to boost a task force when they came under attack by a group of terrorists.

On May 28, TheCable reported that the troops of Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) reportedly killed three ISWAP terrorists in Borno.

The troops had encountered the terrorists during a fighting clearance operation between the boundary of Lake Chad and Malam Fatori in Abadam LGA of Borno.