ISWAP Insurgents Kill Nigerian Soldier Captured During Raid on Military Base in Borno State

Nigeria's North-East region has witnessed a surge in violence in recent months, with Boko Haram and its affiliated groups, including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), carrying out a series of attacks on military bases and convoys. In a recent incident, ISWAP militants raided a military base in Damasak town, Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State, killing a Nigerian soldier who was captured during the raid. The incident has sparked concerns about the resilience of the insurgency in the region, despite claims by the Nigerian military that the conflict has been largely defeated.

Key Takeaways:

• ISWAP militants killed a Nigerian soldier captured during a raid on a military base in Damasak town, Borno State.
• The attack is the latest in a series of incidents targeting Nigerian military bases and convoys in the North-East region.
• Boko Haram and its offshoot, ISWAP, have killed thousands and displaced millions in northeastern Nigeria since their inception.
• The Nigerian military has repeatedly claimed that the insurgency has been largely defeated and frequently underplays any losses.
• At least 15 soldiers, including Major U.I. Urang, commanding officer of the 123 Special Forces Battalion, were reportedly killed during a Boko Haram attack on a military convoy in Gudumbali, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

A resident who spoke with SaharaReporters described the insurgents as "hundreds" who came with guns, trucks, and grenades, shooting sporadically in all directions. The attack also saw the insurgents burn a Nigerian army tanker and some buildings in the military base. The resident stated that the soldiers ran away and left them on their own, and that some soldiers were killed, but he was unable to say how many.

The attack on the military base, which took place just days after the Boko Haram ambush on a convoy in Gudumbali, highlights the ongoing threat posed by the insurgency in the region. Despite claims of progress in the fight against the terrorists, the recent incidents suggest that the conflict is far from over.

Statistics:

• At least 16 soldiers have been killed in recent attacks in Borno State.
• Over 15 soldiers were reportedly killed during the Boko Haram attack on a military convoy in Gudumbali, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
• Thousands of people have been killed by Boko Haram and its affiliated groups, including ISWAP, since their inception in northeastern Nigeria.
• Millions have been displaced due to the insurgency.
• The Nigerian military has repeatedly claimed that the insurgency has been largely defeated, but the recent incidents suggest otherwise.

Sources:

• SaharaReporters
• Amaq News Agency
• Nigerian military (various reports and statements)