ISWAP Terrorists Launch Attack On Borno Community

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have reportedly carried out an attack on Kareto, a town in Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State, North-East Nigeria.

It was learnt that the Islamic fighters stormed the town in the early hours of Saturday, leaving a trail of destruction.

A source in the area told SaharaReporters that security reinforcements were still being expected to save the town.

Also, a statement posted by counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama on his X handle, on Saturday, confirmed the attack.

It will be recalled that the militants belonging to the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād had in June organised da‘wāt in some villages in Borno.

Osun Defender reports that Da‘wāt is the act of inviting or calling people to embrace Islam.

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In pictures released by ISWAP, the sect members were seen publicly engaging with residents of the state around Lake Chad.

The images may be part of the sect’s efforts to counter statements by the Nigerian military that the Islamist insurgent fighters were on a steady retreat, with troops seizing a sizeable territory hitherto occupied and controlled by members of the terrorist sect.

Osun Defender gathered that during the Da’wat programme, the insurgents appealed to villagers to join the group as militants and support their cause to establish an Islamic caliphate.

They had assured them of good governance, better security and basic amenities as soon as they had a new country.

The group had also distributed welfare packages to many households in a new recruitment drive.

Packages said to have been distributed by ISWAP had included rice, beans, millet, maize, sugar, spaghetti, and cash gifts.