by Admin
Jan 28, 2025
At least 20 Nigerian soldiers have been killed in a suspected attack by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in northeastern Borno State. The attack occurred on Friday afternoon in Malam-Fatori, a remote town near the border with Niger, and reportedly lasted for over three hours.
Prodesq News Agency gathered that security sources revealed that ISWAP militants launched the attack on the Nigerian Army’s 149th Battalion using gun trucks, taking the troops by surprise. Among the casualties was the battalion’s commanding officer, a lieutenant colonel.
“They rained bullets everywhere,” a surviving soldier recounted. “We tried so much to repel the attacks, but after more than three hours of gun duel, they overpowered us, killing our commanding officer.” The soldier, who requested anonymity, confirmed that at least 20 soldiers lost their lives, with several others injured.
Local residents reported seeing the attackers in Malam-Fatori as late as Saturday night. Malakaka Bukar, a member of the local militia assisting the army, stated that the militants burned buildings and forced residents to flee. “They preached to some of the residents,” Bukar added.
ISWAP, an offshoot of Boko Haram since 2016, has become the dominant armed group in northeastern Nigeria. Despite sustained military efforts, the group, along with Boko Haram, has intensified its attacks in the northern region of Nigeria, targeting both security forces and civilians. Since the beginning of the year, dozens of farmers and fishermen have been killed in raids.
The 15-year-long insurgency in northeastern Nigeria has claimed nearly 40,000 lives and displaced approximately two million people. The violence has also spilled into neighboring countries, prompting the formation of a regional force involving Niger, Chad, and Cameroon to combat the armed groups.