…They came under explosives and gunfire from ISWAP, which forced them to disperse
BORNO, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | A Nigerian Army major has been killed after fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked a military patrol in Damasak, the headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area in Borno State.
According to sources, the officer, who commanded the Damasak military base, was leading a foot patrol of around 30 soldiers early on Friday when insurgents ambushed them with explosives and gunfire.
The attack forced the troops to scatter. While eight soldiers eventually returned to the base, 22 others, including the commanding officer, were initially unaccounted for.
“From what I gathered, the Damasak base commander led a patrol of 30 troops early on Friday. They came under explosives and gunfire from ISWAP, which forced them to disperse. Only eight soldiers returned to base, while 22, including the major, are unaccounted for,” a source said.
“Whenever the base tries to call him, someone answers, suggesting he may be in ISWAP’s hands,” the source added.
Earlier reports speculated that the major might have been captured, as calls to his phone were reportedly answered by unknown individuals. However, another security source refuted these claims, stating that the officer was killed during the ambush, not abducted.
At the time of reporting, neither the Nigerian Army nor the Borno State Police Command had released an official statement.
This incident recalls the death of Brigadier General M. Uba late last year, who was killed by ISWAP fighters during an ambush on a convoy of soldiers and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) operatives along Damboa Road, near Wajiroko, while transporting military equipment in Borno State.
