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Boko Haram sacks two military bases in northeast Nigeria
KANO, Nigeria, Dec 28, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Boko Haram sacked two military
bases in northeast Nigeria overnight as the jihadist fighters battle for
control of a strategic town on Lake Chad, military sources said Thursday.
Jihadists from the IS-supported Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)
overran a naval base and a multinational joint task force (MNJTF) post in the
fishing town of Baga after a fierce battle, the sources told AFP.
Boko Haram has repeatedly struck military outposts in the region in recent
months.
Fighters in several vehicles stormed Baga and engaged troops in intense
fighting at the MNJTF base which hosts units from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and
Cameroon.
The insurgents also sacked a naval base in Mile 3 which lies five
kilometres from Baga, a military source who asked not to be identified told
AFP.
“The troops were overpowered and forced to withdraw,” the source, adding
that “the terrorists carted away guntrucks, ammunition and multiple rocket
launchers from the base.”
Troops from the two bases withdrew to another naval base at Fish Dam on the
shores of Lake Chad, the military source said.
That base was well secured, and resisted several attempts by Boko Haram
fighters to overrun it, the source added.
The jihadists then retreated and the troops decided not to pursue them to
avoid running into an ambush, a strategy Boko Haram often employs against the
military, the officer said.
Nigerian army spokesman Sani Usman confirmed the attack in a statement
which said the assault began at about 7:00 pm local time (1800 GMT).
“The troops along with their Nigerian Navy counterparts put up a very
determined fight” all night, he said, adding that one navy personnel was
killed.
Troop reinforcements were in pursuit of the Boko Haram fighters, he said.
Residents of the regional capital Maiduguri reported seeing six fighter
jets flying towards Baga on Thursday.
In January 2015, Boko Haram overran the MNJTF base and took control of Baga
after killing hundreds of residents and forcing thousands to flee to
Maiduguri.
The town was later retaken, but jihadists continue to attack the military
and civilians in the area, which is an ISWAP stronghold.
Its fighters occupy camps on many islands in Lake Chad.
Boko Haram’s nine-year insurgency has killed 27,000 people and displaced
two million others, sparking a dire humanitarian crisis in the region.
The fighting has also spilled into Nigeria’s northern neighbours Chad,
Niger and Cameroon.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0854 hrs