Two Nigerian soldiers were killed in a gun battle with suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Marte town of Borno state on Monday.
Citing intelligence sources, Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, said the terrorists reportedly infiltrated the town at about 2am.
The publication said the terrorists were engaged in a gun battle with troops of the battalion stationed in Marte, with reinforcement from the brigade headquarters and close air support from the Nigerian Air Force.
Makama added that the coordinated counteroffensive forced the terrorists to retreat, noting that two soldiers were reportedly killed in the firefight.
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“The attackers reportedly fled with some motorcycles and two vehicles,” the publication quoted a military officer as saying.
“A number of unserviceable military vehicles, classified as beyond economic repair, were also set ablaze by the insurgents during the raid.
“There is no report of any arms or ammunition being taken by the enemy.”
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The attack on the community was one of many by ISWAP terrorists in recent times.
In April, the group destroyed a bridge linking Ngirbuwa to Gonori in Gujba LGA of Yobe using an improvised explosive device (IED).
Earlier in the same week, ISWAP fighters detonated an improvised IED on Mandafuma bridge along Biu-Damboa road in Borno state.
The explosion was aimed at hindering military reinforcements travelling through the area and disrupting the movement of motorists and passengers along the route.
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