Militants from the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, have attacked Gujba in Yobe State.

According to ISWAP, in a statement sighted by Flavision, four policemen were killed during the attack on the community which is 30 km from Damaturu, the state capital.

The group mocked the Nigerian army, claiming soldiers refused to leave their military base to defend the town while they operated for many hours.

The insurgents also burnt some United Nation facilities, houses and cars in the community.

Confirming the incident to Flavision, a military source said,

Yes, it’s true. They attacked the community last week. They came in different vans and drove straight to the company constructing the 40km Gujba-Mutai Road.

That was where they killed the police officers. I saw two officers though, I was told one member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was killed as well. Then they started burning the company’s heavy-duty machines on the site.

From there, they moved back to the community where they looted the Red Cross and USAID offices and burnt the facilities.

The attack comes a few months after the insurgents stormed a military base in the community, killing several soldiers.

Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, have killed thousands and displaced millions in Northeastern Nigeria.

The Nigerian military has repeatedly claimed that the insurgency had been largely defeated and frequently underplays any losses.

In the past months, soldiers have been targeted by the insurgents, who wait in ambush for them.

Hundreds of soldiers and officers have been reportedly killed since January 2021.

At least 33 soldiers were recently killed when two explosive-laden vehicles rammed into a military convoy in Wulgo.

The suicide bombers were identified as Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and Bana Jundullah. The group also claimed four military vehicles were destroyed.

In February, about 20 soldiers were also killed in Malari, Borno State by the insurgents.

Flavision gathered that the soldiers were on patrol to clear some Boko Haram elements in the area following a credible intelligence when they were ambushed by the group.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.