About 20 Nigerian soldiers, including a commanding officer have been killed following Friday attack of an army base in Borno state by suspected Islamist fighters.
It was gathered that the latest assault on the Nigerian military happened when ISWAP members arrived on gun trucks and attacked the army’s 149 Battalion in Malam-Fatori town, gateway to the border with Niger.
One of the soldiers who survived the attack told Reuters by phone that troops were taken by surprise as the militants “rained bullets everywhere”.
“We tried so much to repel the attacks and after more than three hours of gun duel, they overpowered us, killing our commanding officer, a lieutenant colonel,” the soldier said, declining to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the media.
He said 20 soldiers died while several were injured.
Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province ,ISWAP, fighters have mainly operated in Borno, targeting security forces and civilians, in the process killing and displacing tens of thousands of people.
Residents who left the town said some of the militants were seen in Malam-Fatori as late as Saturday night.
Malakaka Bukar, a member of the local militia recruited to help the army, said the militants also burned buildings, forcing some residents to flee the town.
“They preached to some of the residents,” said Bukar.
Daily Intel/Reuters
