At least two Nigerian soldiers lost their lives during a gun battle with ISWAP terrorists in Marte town, Borno State, on Monday. The terrorists reportedly infiltrated the town around 2:00 am and clashed with soldiers stationed in the area.
Intelligence sources indicated that the insurgents set several military vehicles on fire during the attack. The firefight involved troops from the local battalion, with reinforcement from the Brigade Headquarters and close air support from the Nigerian Air Force. Despite the intense battle, the coordinated counter-offensive forced the terrorists to retreat, abandoning their plans to overrun the town.
The attackers fled with motorcycles and two vehicles, while some military vehicles, deemed beyond repair, were set ablaze. A military officer confirmed that no arms or ammunition were taken by the insurgents. As of the latest report, the Brigade Commander was on the ground in Marte to assess the situation.
Bomb Blast Kills Two Education Officials on Damboa–Maiduguri Highway
In a separate incident on Monday, two staff members of the Damboa Local Education Authority (LEA), Blessings Luka and Gideon Bitterleaf, were killed in a bomb blast along the Damboa–Maiduguri highway. The victims were traveling from Damboa to Maiduguri when their vehicle, a Toyota Hiace van carrying mangoes, struck an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by suspected terrorists.
The explosion killed both officials instantly, while other passengers sustained injuries. Local sources described the victims as dedicated and hardworking education officials. Security personnel have cordoned off the area, and investigations are ongoing to determine those responsible for the attack, which has raised further concerns about the safety of travelers in the region.
