7 Soldiers, 4 civilian JTF feared Killed In ISWAP ambush

The Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have killed seven soldiers and four Civilian JTF in an ambush along the Marte/Dikwa axis of Borno State.

Confirming the incident yesterday in Maiduguri, the Sector leader of Civilian JTF, Modu Ba’ana, said the insurgents planted improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), Thursday, along Maiduguri/Dikwa, while the military convoy was travelling from Marte to Maiduguri.

He disclosed that the convoy was escorting soldiers that were granted leave pass from Marte to catch a flight to their respective destinations in the country, and that the ISWAP ambush occurred at Ala village, located between Dikwa and Marte border towns.

He said: “One of the military vehicles stepped on the IEDs planted by the terrorists. Some extremists hidden around the spot also opened fire on the other convoys, leading to the death of seven soldiers and four local security vigilantes, who were travelling in the convoy.”

Ba’ana noted that the ambush is part of ISWAP’s strategies to consolidate its hold on Sambisa Forest after Boko Haram’s withdrawal in July.

He said the ISWAP fighters were led by Aboubacar Oucacha Fiya, who oversees the Marte areas in Lake Chad Basin. Thursday coordinated attacks coincided with the repel of ISWAP terrorists at military bases in Malam Fatori and Babangida communities of Borno and Yobe states.