At least 31 Nigerian soldiers were killed when IS-aligned jihadists ambushed a military convoy escorting weapons and overran a base in Borno state, the AFP quoted military sources on Monday.
Also in Geidam, Yobe state, 11 people were reportedly killed when the terrorists invaded the area.
The AFP reports that fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked the convoy with rocket-propelled grenades on Sunday in the town of Mainok outside Maiduguri, the Borno state capital before storming the nearby base, the news agency quoted sources.
The attack, according to the report, was the deadliest this year against the Nigerian army which has been battling a decade-long jihadist insurgency in the north east that has killed 36,000 people and displaced around two million from their homes.
“We lost 31 soldiers, including their commander who was a lieutenant colonel, in the ambush by the terrorists,” the AFP quoted a military officer as saying.
According to the report, the convoy was transporting weapons to Maiduguri when it came under attack.
“The terrorists came in several trucks, including four MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles) and engaged the convoy in a fierce battle, the militants overwhelmed soldiers, leading to the colossal loss of troops, we lost a lot of men in very gruesome way” the AFP quoted a second military second source.
The report added that the jihadists seized weapons and two MRAPs in the attack before overrunning and partially burning the base outside the town.
According to the AFP, Mainok, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Maiduguri, has been repeatedly targeted by the jihadists.
ISWAP has frequently set up bogus checkpoints along the 120-km highway linking Maiduguri and Damaturu in neighbouring Yobe state on which Mainok lies, killing and abducting travellers.
ISWAP split from mainstream Boko Haram faction in 2016 and rose to become a dominant force in the northeast as Nigeria’s conflict has spilt over borders into neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
Meanwhile about 2,000 residents of Geidam in neighbouring Yobe state have fled their homes after a separate attack by ISWAP who invaded the town Friday.
The AFP reports that on Sunday residents fled, crossing to the other side of the river to escape militants who have been in control since they attacked the town.
Late on Friday ISWAP the insurgents took control of Geidam after a gunfight with troops, looting and burning stores in the town.
At least 11 people were reportedly killed in the fight after a projectile hit two adjoining homes, killing all occupants, according to residents.
The exodus was prompted by targeted killings of residents by the insurgents, according to fleeing residents.
Source: AFP
