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Six Nigerian soldiers killed in jihadist attack
KANO, Nigeria, Dec 23, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Jihadists armed with guns and
rocket-propelled grenades killed six soldiers in an ambush in northeast
Nigeria on Sunday, security sources said.
Fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group
attacked a patrol outside Tungushe, a village 22 kilometres (13 miles) from
the Borno State capital Maiduguri, they said Monday.
“Two patrol vans came under fire from the terrorists and the leading
vehicle was hit by an RPG, killing six soldiers on board,” a security source
said Monday.
Three jihadists were killed in a battle with soldiers following the
ambush, a second security source said.
The Tungushe area has been repeatedly targeted by ISWAP and its rival Boko
Haram faction. The insurgents attack troops and raid villages for food and
livestock.
In October a soldier and three civilians were killed when ISWAP militants
attacked troops in Tungushe.
The decade-long jihadist insurgency in northeast Nigeria has killed 35,000
people and displaced around two million people.
The conflict has spilled into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon,
prompting a regional military coalition to fight the jihadist groups.
BSS/AFP/RY/20:03 hrs