IS Claims Responsibility For Borno Attacks

The Islamic State says its fighters have killed no fewer than 20 Nigerian soldiers in some attacks in Borno State.

One of the recent attacks was carried out on Wednesday, July 12, in Borno State with the insurgents attacking troops of 158 Battalion Location at Kareto Village of Mobbar Local Government Area, Borno State.

Reuters News Agency reports that the outlawed group claimed responsibility for the attack in a message published on a website.

The group claims its affiliate, the Islamic State In West Africa (ISWA), which split from Boko Haram terrorist group in 2016, has carried out a number of attacks in the northeast over the last few months.

Efforts to get a reaction from the military proved abortive as the spokesperson of Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Ado Isa did not respond to phone calls nor reply text messages.

Meanwhile, the group also claimed to have attacked a military base in Kareto village which is some 130 kilometres from the Borno State capital Maiduguri.

The group claims an army commander was shot dead in the attack which the military is yet to confirm.

The attack has however left many soldiers dead with many others still missing. Locals confirmed that the whereabouts of the Commanding Officer of the battalion is still unknown.