Six soldiers reportedly died in a raid on a military base in northeastern Nigeria, according to AFP news agency.  ,
According to two military officers, two fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) reportedly launched a pre-dawn attack on a base in Sabon Gari in Borno State’s Damboa district on Sunday in a truck and motorcycle-free zone.
According to reports, the base and army vehicles were also set on fire by the insurgents. One of the officers, who was quoted by AFP, said, “We lost six soldiers in the ISWAP terrorists attack on the base after a long gun battle.
As the attackers fled, fighter jets reportedly flew from Maiduguri, which is located 100 kilometers (62 miles) away.
READ ALSO: Air Force’s Strikes Kill Terrorists In Borno
Another military officer was quoted by AFP as saying, “Air strikes against the fleeing terrorists resulted in multiple militant fatalities and the destruction of operational vehicles and their weapons,” but the casualties did not total ISWAP.
Major General Edward Buba, a spokesman for Defence Headquarters, gave no details about the casualty counted, but he confirmed the assault on the troops.
“It is confirmed that the troops experienced setbacks during the area’s operations. An inquiry has been set up to confirm the details of what transpired, after which I will provide the details in due course”, he told Channels Television.
Northern Nigeria has been ravaged by armed criminal organizations as well as jihadist organizations since 2009, including Boko Haram and a rival faction, the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP).
Around two million people have been displaced from their northeastern homes as a result of the conflict, which has claimed more than 40 000 lives.
When ISWAP fighters raided a base in Kareto, a village close to the border with Niger, in November, five Nigerian soldiers died and ten more were hurt.
Source: Channels TV
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