Insurgents killed two soldiers and a child in Borno before Nigerian airstrikes eliminated 32 attackers.
Two soldiers and a nine-year-old boy were killed late Thursday when insurgents attacked military and police facilities in Banki, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to counter-insurgency outlet Zagazola Makama, the assault began around 10:15 p.m., targeting the Bula Yobe forward operating base, 152 Battalion, and the divisional police headquarters. Three military vehicles were reportedly set ablaze during the raid.
Troops called for air support as the gunmen advanced. Guided by surveillance intelligence, two A-29 Super Tucano aircraft “carried out multiple strikes on the fleeing insurgents, killing 32 members of Boko Haram and ISWAP,” Makama said.
The bodies of the soldiers have been moved to Maiduguri, while the remains of the boy, identified as Ismail Abubakar, were handed over to his family. Reinforcements have since been deployed to Banki and surrounding areas to forestall further attacks.
Borno has remained the epicentre of the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province insurgency despite ongoing military operations.