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The Print
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
At least 20,000 flee insurgency-hit town in Nigeria, governor says
Borno state governor Babagana Zulum visited Marte, which is close to the border with Cameroon, to assess the security situation and meet military officials there. Borno state has witnessed an upsurge in attacks by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) assailants this year, raising concerns that the militants are making gains again after years of intense attacks by the military. By Ahmed Kingimi MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) -At least 20,000 people have fled Marte town following increasing attacks by Islamist militants in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, its governor has said, four years after residents returned to the town that was once controlled by insurgents. His visit followed a raid on Marte's army base last week in which militants temporarily overran the installation. At least five soldiers were killed and others went missing in the attack. 'Marte was resettled about four years ago, but unfortunately, over the last three days, it was ransacked and was displaced again,' Zulum told reporters on Sunday. 'About 20,000 people left Marte for Dikwa (town).' Zulum, who also visited Rann, another town where an army base was attacked last week, will on Monday head to Kalawa Balge district where 23 farmers were killed by suspected militants. At least two million people have been displaced and thousands killed by the insurgency in Nigeria in the last 16 years, according to humanitarian groups. Zulum's state government resettled residents in Marte as part of a programme to shut camps for Internally Displaced Persons in Borno capital Maiduguri and upheld the plan as a model for other towns previously controlled by insurgents. But many Marte residents now fear that their lives could be upended again if attacks continue. Boko Haram and Islamic State-backed ISWAP have been adapting their tactics, including using drones for surveillance, security analysts and the military say. Zulum said leaving residents to live in a camp in Dikwa town was a big threat as it would leave young men 'vulnerable to recruitment by insurgents.' (Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe, Editing by William Maclean) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Daily Maverick
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
At least 20,000 flee insurgency-hit town in Nigeria, governor says
Borno state has witnessed an upsurge in attacks by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) assailants this year, raising concerns that the militants are making gains again after years of intense attacks by the military. Borno state governor Babagana Zulum visited Marte, which is close to the border with Cameroon, to assess the security situation and meet military officials there. His visit followed a raid on Marte's army base last week in which militants temporarily overran the installation. At least five soldiers were killed and others went missing in the attack. 'Marte was resettled about four years ago, but unfortunately, over the last three days, it was ransacked and was displaced again,' Zulum told reporters on Sunday. 'About 20,000 people left Marte for Dikwa (town).' Zulum, who also visited Rann, another town where an army base was attacked last week, will on Monday head to Kalawa Balge district where 23 farmers were killed by suspected militants. At least two million people have been displaced and thousands killed by the insurgency in Nigeria in the last 16 years, according to humanitarian groups. Zulum's state government resettled residents in Marte as part of a programme to shut camps for Internally Displaced Persons in Borno capital Maiduguri and upheld the plan as a model for other towns previously controlled by insurgents. But many Marte residents now fear that their lives could be upended again if attacks continue. Boko Haram and Islamic State-backed ISWAP have been adapting their tactics, including using drones for surveillance, security analysts and the military say. Zulum said leaving residents to live in a camp in Dikwa town was a big threat as it would leave young men 'vulnerable to recruitment by insurgents.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At least 20,000 flee insurgency-hit town in Nigeria, governor says
By Ahmed Kingimi MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) -At least 20,000 people have fled Marte town following increasing attacks by Islamist militants in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, its governor has said, four years after residents returned to the town that was once controlled by insurgents. Borno state has witnessed an upsurge in attacks by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) assailants this year, raising concerns that the militants are making gains again after years of intense attacks by the military. Borno state governor Babagana Zulum visited Marte, which is close to the border with Cameroon, to assess the security situation and meet military officials there. His visit followed a raid on Marte's army base last week in which militants temporarily overran the installation. At least five soldiers were killed and others went missing in the attack. "Marte was resettled about four years ago, but unfortunately, over the last three days, it was ransacked and was displaced again," Zulum told reporters on Sunday. "About 20,000 people left Marte for Dikwa (town)." Zulum, who also visited Rann, another town where an army base was attacked last week, will on Monday head to Kalawa Balge district where 23 farmers were killed by suspected militants. At least two million people have been displaced and thousands killed by the insurgency in Nigeria in the last 16 years, according to humanitarian groups. Zulum's state government resettled residents in Marte as part of a programme to shut camps for Internally Displaced Persons in Borno capital Maiduguri and upheld the plan as a model for other towns previously controlled by insurgents. But many Marte residents now fear that their lives could be upended again if attacks continue. Boko Haram and Islamic State-backed ISWAP have been adapting their tactics, including using drones for surveillance, security analysts and the military say. Zulum said leaving residents to live in a camp in Dikwa town was a big threat as it would leave young men "vulnerable to recruitment by insurgents." (Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe, Editing by William Maclean)
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Militants attack Nigerian army base, troops missing, sources say
By Ahmed Kingimi MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - Suspected Islamist militants attacked a Nigerian army base and captured soldiers and ammunition during a raid in the insurgency-hit northeastern Borno state in the early hours of Monday, two security sources told Reuters. A surge in attacks this year by Boko Haram and its splinter rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has raised fears of a major comeback by jihadists, whose tactics include armed drones and explosive devices planted on major roads. A soldier who escaped the attack said the militants arrived on motorbikes and gun trucks and laid siege on the 153 Task Force Battalion base in Borno's Marte district from around 0200 GMT. The Nigerian troops retreated to the larger 24 Task Force Brigade in nearby Dikwa district where they regrouped and launched a counter-attack that retook the base, said the soldier, who declined to be named for security reasons. Several soldiers were feared dead and others missing. "As I'm speaking to you now, they killed many of our soldiers while some were captured alive by the insurgents while we were withdrawing from the attack," the soldier said. Nigerian Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Onyechi Appolonia Anele referred questions to the country's Defence Headquarters, which did not immediately respond. A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), which is helping the military fight jihadists, said the militants took ammunition and burned the army's anti-mine resistance vehicles. The CJTF member, who also escaped, said the military was still searching for the missing soldiers and had yet to account for the number of dead troops. Security experts have attributed the resurgence to a lull in fighting between Boko Haram and Islamic State-backed ISWAP and the adoption of aerial technology by the groups. (Additional reporting by Camillus Eboh in Abuja; Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Straits Times
12-05-2025
- Straits Times
Militants attack Nigerian army base, troops missing, sources say
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria - Suspected Islamist militants attacked a Nigerian army base and captured soldiers and ammunition during a raid in the insurgency-hit northeastern Borno state in the early hours of Monday, two security sources told Reuters. A surge in attacks this year by Boko Haram and its splinter rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has raised fears of a major comeback by jihadists, whose tactics include armed drones and explosive devices planted on major roads. A soldier who escaped the attack said the militants arrived on motorbikes and gun trucks and laid siege on the 153 Task Force Battalion base in Borno's Marte district from around 0200 GMT. The Nigerian troops retreated to the larger 24 Task Force Brigade in nearby Dikwa district where they regrouped and launched a counter-attack that retook the base, said the soldier, who declined to be named for security reasons. Several soldiers were feared dead and others missing. "As I'm speaking to you now, they killed many of our soldiers while some were captured alive by the insurgents while we were withdrawing from the attack," the soldier said. Nigerian Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Onyechi Appolonia Anele referred questions to the country's Defence Headquarters, which did not immediately respond. A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), which is helping the military fight jihadists, said the militants took ammunition and burned the army's anti-mine resistance vehicles. The CJTF member, who also escaped, said the military was still searching for the missing soldiers and had yet to account for the number of dead troops. Security experts have attributed the resurgence to a lull in fighting between Boko Haram and Islamic State-backed ISWAP and the adoption of aerial technology by the groups. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
