A deadly raid by Islamic State-affiliated jihadists on a military facility in Borno State has resulted in the deaths of eight Nigerian soldiers, with 23 others wounded.
The attack, carried out by about 70 fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on motorcycles, occurred at a base in Cross Kauwa village, triggering a fierce gun battle.
AFP reports that the terrorists mobilized from a camp on Dabar Masara island in Lake Chad, taking a long detour before launching the assault.
“Eight soldiers paid the supreme price, and 23 others sustained injuries,” a military officer said of the attack which struck on Monday.
“The terrorists burnt down the base along with 11 gun trucks and took away the anti-aircraft guns mounted on them,” said one anti-jihadist militia source.
The base, located 24 kilometers from the fishing town of Baga, served as a major security buffer protecting the area from jihadist incursions.
This incident is part of a recent surge in attacks by ISWAP and Boko Haram on military formations across the northeast.
The United Nations estimates that jihadist violence has killed over 40,000 people and displaced about two million others in the region since 2009.
Meanwhile, the United States has deployed over 200 troops to Nigeria to provide technical and training support in the fight against these jihadist groups.
