ABUJA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian troops killed more than 25 suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist group while repelling a coordinated multi-directional attack on special forces in the country's northeastern Borno State, the military said Wednesday.
Mohammed Goni, spokesman for the military-led joint task force for Operation Hadin Kai in northeastern Nigeria, said in a statement that the suspected terrorists attacked troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion from four directions in the Kukawa area of the state but met stiff resistance Tuesday.
Supported by the air component, ground troops responded with superior firepower and coordinated tactical manoeuvres, forcing the terrorists to flee, Goni said.
Citing an operational report, he said about 14 bodies of the suspected terrorists were immediately recovered after the gunfight, while a preliminary assessment indicated that more than 25 had been killed.
Further operations were underway to recover additional weapons, track fleeing terrorists and prevent them from regrouping, he added.
The Nigerian military said it would sustain operations against terrorist groups to degrade their operational capabilities and weaken their ability to recruit members, spread propaganda and coordinate attacks. ■