|
The attack happened in the town of Ngoshe in Borno state,
according to Bulama Sawa, an official from the Gwoza area. He
told The Associated Press the attack was likely in retaliation
for an operation by the military that killed three commanders of
the militant Boko Haram group.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for Friday's attack.
Nigeria is battling a complex security crisis from different
armed groups. The United States has sent troops to the West
African nation to help advise its military on the fight against
insecurity.
Separate attacks this week also took place in the communities of
Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Mainok between Wednesday and early
Friday, according to a military spokesperson.
The spokesperson, Uba Sani, said the troops were able to repel
the attacks on the communities of Konduga, Marte, Jakana and
Mainok, but “a number of brave soldiers paid the supreme price
in the line of duty," along with a senior officer. He did not
elaborate on military casualties.
Sani described the assaults as “failed attacks” and said they
showed “increasing desperation of terrorist elements under
sustained operational pressure" from the military.
Ulf Laessing, with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, said Friday's
attack on Ngoshe took advantage of the Nigerian army’s
difficulties in controlling large swaths of the country where
jihadi groups operate. Militants are also benefiting from
increased cross-border cooperation between their groups and the
use of drones to scout out their targets before attacking.
“The army is fighting a ghost — fighters descending with
motorbikes on villages and disappearing into the bush before the
army can respond in time,” said Laessing.
Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups are Boko Haram
and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated with the Islamic
State group and known as Islamic State West Africa Province.
There is also the IS-linked Lakurawa, as well as other “bandit”
groups that specialize in kidnapping for ransom and illegal
mining.
Recently, the crisis has worsened to include other militants
from the neighboring Sahel region, including the Jama’at Nusrat
al-Islam wal-Muslimin, which claimed its first attack on
Nigerian soil last year.
Several thousand people in Nigeria have been killed, according
to data from the United Nations. Analysts say not enough is
being done by the government to protect its citizens.
___
McMakin reported from Dakar, Senegal.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
