At least 80 insurgents killed as Nigerian troops repel base assault, military says
Nigerian troops repelled a coordinated assault by Islamist insurgents on Wednesday in the northeastern state of Borno, killing at least 80 fighters, including senior commanders, according to the army.
The pre-dawn attack targeted an army position in Mallam Fatori near the border with neighboring Niger, with insurgents advancing on foot and deploying armed drones, according to military task force spokesperson Sani Uba. Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters have intensified attacks on military bases in recent weeks in Borno. Sani Uba said troops had anticipated the assault and mounted what he described as an "offensive-defensive" response, beating back the attack with ground fire and air support. Nigeria’s air force carried out precision strikes, while allied Nigerien jets hit retreating insurgents. Four soldiers were wounded and evacuated for treatment, according to Uba, who added that airstrike damage assessments were ongoing. Troops also recovered a large cache of weapons, including assault rifles, RPG launchers, machine guns, ammunition, improvised explosive devices, and armed-drone components, according to Uba.
The military said three "high-profile" insurgent commanders were killed. Wednesday’s assault followed multiple suicide bombings on Monday in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno, that killed at least 23 and left more than 100 wounded.
Quick Summary
Nigerian troops and Islamist insurgents clashed in Borno state. Attacks on military bases have intensified, suggesting a shift in militant tactics- but why?
Summary - read the full story for complete context.
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