BONO, YOBE, Nigeria – According to security officers and analysis, terrorist groups affiliated with Boko Haram and their breakaway faction ISWAP, launched a number of attacks against army installations in Borno and Yobe states in early March.
Army bases and checkpoints were raided where, militants allegedly killed several personnel of army including officers before looting ammunitions and military equipment as well as military vehicles from these locations.
Security report indicates that a series of raid conducted within minutes by militants against military bases were well-coordinated which was also implemented in the larger Chad Basin area where several areas were attacked within a span of a few hours which according to analysis enables the groups to overcome the positions.
One such incident that is identified in security reports is that the suspected fighters of ISWAP attacked the Nigerian army base at Ngoshe killing at least 9 army men as well as others.
Sources say, arms and trucks have been stolen from the location and the raiders retreated without being confronted and in fact, raids of army bases are being used by the militant groups to acquire more arms and ammunition from the military.
Nigeria has battled with the Islamist militancy over the last 15 years especially in the north east region of Nigeria, an ongoing conflict largely fueled by Boko Haram and ISWAP has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions in the region.
Despite several efforts, the extremist groups continue to attack remote villages, highways, and military locations especially around borders of Nigeria with Chad, Niger and Cameroon, which often lead to loss of lives on both side, but army lost far greater number of life. Security analysts maintain that these attacks show the ability of the jihadist groups to carry out elaborate raids and exploitation of the vulnerable military position in northern Nigeria.
