Increased Attacks by Jihadists in Nigeria
Jihadists from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), along with Boko Haram, have significantly escalated their attacks on military facilities in Nigeria over the past week, leading to the deaths of numerous officials and civilians, as reported by local media on Tuesday.
Attacks on security forces have surged recently. Rebel groups have targeted military bases, seizing arms and ammunition. A military spokesperson confirmed “multiple coordinated attacks” on various military posts in northeastern Nigeria.
Both Boko Haram and ISWAP revealed that they had conducted a series of assaults across different regions of Borno in the past week, resulting in the deaths of at least three military commanders. This raises the total number of commanders killed this year to seven.
On Monday, reports indicated that the jihadist factions launched separate nighttime attacks in Kukawa town, leading to at least 14 fatalities, including 10 soldiers. However, military representatives insisted to local media that all the targeted areas “remain under control.”
A security report cited by the media revealed that ISWAP attacked a military base in the Lake Chad region and engaged in gunfire for three hours. During this confrontation, Boko Haram targeted a military outpost in the village of Darwa, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and four civilians. Additionally, over 200 houses were set ablaze by the attackers.
The media has also noted that suspected Boko Haram operatives attacked the town of Gonili in neighboring Yobe state, killing four soldiers and causing destruction to buildings and military vehicles.
However, not all recent jihadist assaults were successful. Reports indicated that Nigerian forces thwarted an attack by Boko Haram and ISWAP on a military base in Doronbaga early Tuesday morning, occurring less than a day after the series of other attacks.
The clashes began around 2:12 a.m. and lasted approximately 55 minutes, reportedly resulting in several jihadist casualties and allowing the military to reclaim various weapons and ammunition.
“During the engagement, the troops maintained their tactical position, and the conflict concluded around 5:50 a.m.,” said the source, noting that while some terrorists were killed, there were no military casualties or equipment losses.
On Wednesday, the Nigerian military announced the death of three terrorist suspects during an operation in Sokoto State, where they recovered firearms, ammunition, and other supplies based on intelligence about the presence of over 100 terrorists in the Kadam forest.
According to reports, during follow-up operations in the forest, three terrorists were neutralized, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds.
Nigeria’s Defense Minister Christopher Musa addressed the media on Wednesday, asserting that the military still maintains control over security, despite the uptick in jihadist violence in northeastern Nigeria. He emphasized that military officials are thoroughly reviewing strategies nationwide.
“We recognize the challenges ahead, but we assure Nigerians that the Armed Forces are diligently working to ensure the country’s safety,” Musa stated. “We’ve faced casualties, but terrorists and bandits have caused many more losses.” He also claimed that efforts to eliminate more commanders and destroy their resources will continue.
In a related development, the United States is preparing to deploy around 200 troops to Nigeria in the coming weeks to assist in counterterrorism training for the Nigerian military. Reports earlier indicated that a small US military presence has been in Nigeria since January, although US troops will not participate in combat operations.
