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Four Nigerian troops killed in jihadist attack
KANO, Nigeria, Jan 16, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Four Nigerian soldiers have been
killed in an attack by IS-affiliated jihadists in the country’s restive
northeast, two security sources told AFP Thursday.
Fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in trucks
fitted with machine guns late Wednesday launched a “surprise attack” on
troops in Auno village, 25 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno state
capital, they said.
“Four soldiers were killed in the attack and seven were injured,” said the
first security source.
Another security official confirmed the attack.
“The terrorists came through the bush at the rear instead of the usual
highway, taking troops by surprise,” said the source who gave the same
casualty toll.
The jihadists were said to have overwhelmed the troops, and went into the
village, looting and burning shops before withdrawing.
It was not immediately clear whether the militants suffered any
casualties.
ISWAP, which split from Boko Haram in 2016 has intensified attacks against
the military since the middle of 2018, repeatedly carrying out deadly strikes
against soldiers.
The group has also been abducting motorists at bogus checkpoints in Borno
state, targeting security personnel, anti-jihadist militia as well as
Christians.
Auno lies on the 120-kilometre highway linking Maiduguri and Damaturu, the
capital of neighbouring Yobe state, which has also been repeatedly targeted
by the militants.
Last week four soldiers were killed and 11 others injured when the
jihadists attacked a military base in nearby Jakana.
The decade-long jihadist conflict has killed at least 35,000 people and
displaced around two million from their homes in northeast Nigeria.
The violence has spread to neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon,
prompting a regional military coalition to fight the insurgents.
BSS/AFP/BZC/2105HRS