Nigeria, March 18 -- Security sources involved in the operation said the insurgents launched the attack in the early hours of Wednesday, advancing on foot while deploying armed drones in a desperate bid to breach the defences of troops stationed at the 68 Battalion.

According to the sources, the assault, which came through the frontage of Bravo Company from the Duguri axis, was met with overwhelming firepower and strong coordination between ground troops and air components.

The troops, supported by precision air strikes, engaged the terrorists in a fierce battle, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers.

"Our forces executed four highly effective air interdiction strikes on identified enemy concentrations, decimating their fightin...