The Nigerian military has confirmed that four soldiers were killed and five others injured while repelling an attack by Islamist insurgents in Ngamdu, a community located along the Ngamdu–Damaturu highway in Borno State.
According to a statement released by the Defence Headquarters, the incident occurred when insurgents launched a coordinated assault on a military patrol team and planted multiple Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along the strategic route. The ambush briefly disrupted vehicular movement before troops successfully regained control of the area.
Military sources revealed that combat engineers from the Nigerian Army swiftly moved in to clear three IEDs that had been laid across the road, ensuring the safe passage of commuters and security convoys. The route, a vital link between Borno and Yobe States, was reopened to traffic shortly after clearance operations were completed.
Despite the casualties, the army stated that its forces repelled the attack effectively, inflicting losses on the insurgents and forcing them to retreat into nearby forested areas. Troops are said to be conducting follow-up operations to track down fleeing fighters and dismantle their supply networks in the region.
The Defence Headquarters extended condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and reaffirmed the military’s commitment to eliminating terrorist threats in the Northeast.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces remain resolute in defending the sovereignty of our nation and will continue to pursue all elements of insecurity with renewed determination,” the statement read.
The Ngamdu axis has long been a flashpoint in the fight against Boko Haram and its splinter faction, ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province), both of which have used the corridor for ambushes and logistics movement.
Security analysts note that the renewed attacks underscore the ongoing challenges in fully securing major highways in the Northeast, despite recent gains made by the military. However, authorities maintain that counterinsurgency operations are yielding positive results, with insurgent strongholds increasingly weakened by sustained ground and air offensives.
