A recent jihadist raid on a military base in northeast Nigeria has resulted in the deaths of five soldiers from a multinational coalition. The pre-dawn attack, carried out by fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), targeted the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) base in Wulgo, which houses troops from Nigeria and Cameroon.
According to military sources, the fighting was intense as the jihadists engaged troops stationed at the base. Reports indicate that four Nigerian soldiers and one Cameroonian soldier lost their lives during the confrontation. In a significant retaliatory effort, Nigerian forces killed nine militants during the exchange.
Unfortunately, the militants’ overwhelming force forced the coalition troops to abandon the base, marking another setback for the joint task force. This assault follows a previous raid on the same base two months prior, which resulted in the deaths of 25 Cameroonian soldiers.
The MNJTF, established by Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin, Chad, and Niger, aims to combat cross-border armed groups. However, its operations have recently faced challenges due to the withdrawal of Niger’s participation and Chad’s threats to do the same.
In the attack on Friday, ISWAP militants reportedly burned two mine-resistant armored vehicles and five military trucks, in addition to seizing several motorcycles belonging to local hunters supporting the troops in their efforts against jihadist factions in the area.
Sources emphasize the heightened activity from both ISWAP and its rival Boko Haram, particularly in Borno state, the epicenter of a long-standing insurgency that has persisted since 2009. The situation remains dire as the struggle against these armed groups continues to escalate.
