20 Nigerian soldiers killed in prolonged assault on Borno base

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At least 20 Nigerian soldiers were killed in a suspected attack by fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Friday. The assault targeted an army base in Malam-Fatori, a remote town in northeastern Borno state, which serves as a gateway to the border with Niger.

According to security sources and residents, the attackers arrived on gun trucks and launched a prolonged assault on the Nigerian Army’s 149th Battalion. One of the surviving soldiers, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the attack lasted more than three hours.

Despite efforts to repel the assault, the troops were overpowered, resulting in the deaths of 20 soldiers, including a commanding officer, a lieutenant colonel. “They rained bullets everywhere,” the soldier recounted, describing the surprise attack. Several others were injured during the confrontation.

The survivors reported seeing some of the attackers in Malam-Fatori as late as Saturday night. Residents fleeing the town reported that the attackers also burned buildings and preached to some of the local population. Malakaka Bukar, a member of the local militia, confirmed that the fighters had torched structures and forced residents to flee.

ISWAP, which split from the main Boko Haram faction in 2016, has become the dominant armed group in northeastern Nigeria.

While weakened by military efforts in recent years, both Boko Haram and ISWAP have escalated their attacks in the region, particularly since the start of this year. These groups have killed dozens of farmers and fishermen in a series of raids.

The ongoing conflict, which has lasted for 15 years, has claimed nearly 40,000 lives and displaced around two million people. The violence has also spilled into neighboring countries, including Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, prompting the formation of a regional military force to combat these insurgents.