Deadly ISWAP Attack Leaves Dozens Killed in Northeastern Nigeria
Edited By: Sekou Kagné
Dozens of people, including soldiers, were killed in an overnight attack carried out by militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province in northeastern Nigeria, according to local sources cited by Agence France-Presse.
The attack took place late Thursday in Sabon Gari, a remote area of Borno State that has been affected by persistent violence since 2009, linked to armed groups including Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Ibrahim Liman, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force supporting the Nigerian Army, said the death toll includes dozens of victims. He added that many bodies remained at the military base, while several soldiers were still missing.
According to the same source, the bodies of five soldiers and 15 civilians, including construction workers and local fishermen, were transferred to the general hospital in Biu, a nearby town. A representative of local fishermen in Yamarkumi, as well as two nurses at Biu hospital, confirmed the arrival of bodies and injured individuals from Sabon Gari.
The victims were reportedly working on a road bridge that had been destroyed in a previous attack last year. They were heading back to their base when the assault occurred.
Earlier this week, military sources reported that at least nine soldiers were killed in an ambush carried out by ISWAP fighters near the border with Niger.
ISWAP split from Boko Haram in 2016 and has primarily targeted Nigerian security forces, though civilians have also been affected by its operations.
The Nigerian army has been engaged for years in operations against armed groups, particularly Boko Haram and ISWAP. The prolonged insurgency has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians and the displacement of millions across the region.
