Suspected members of Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have reportedly killed eight soldiers in an overnight attack on a Nigerian Army base in Borno State. According to Sahara Reporters, the assault took place in the early hours of Friday when terrorists stormed the 162 Battalion located on the Mandara-Burtai road.
Soldiers who survived the attack told the news outlet that the incident occurred around 4 a.m. during rainfall. The Nigerian Army has not yet issued an official statement regarding the attack. However, a reinforcement team has been deployed to the area.
Details Remain Sketchy
A local researcher monitoring the situation in Borno stated that details of the attack are still unclear. He cautioned against immediately attributing the attack to either Boko Haram or ISWAP, noting that both groups operate in the region. According to him, Ali Ngulde, a Boko Haram commander, operates in the Mandara mountain area, while an ISWAP commander named Amir Ahmad has been leading attacks on military targets along the Bama, Madagali, and Askirita Uba axis, which connects to the Mandara area.
Ongoing Military Operations
The latest attack occurs amid ongoing bilateral military operations involving US and Nigerian troops. Late last month, these forces killed Abubakar Mainok, a top ISWAP commander, along with other fighters. The Defence Headquarters estimated that 20 insurgents were killed during those operations.
