The jihadist group Boko Haram has killed more than 60 people in an overnight attack in Nigeria's north-eastern Borno State, local officials say. On Friday night militants struck the village of Darul Jamal, home to a military base on the Nigeria-Cameroon border, killing at least five soldiers. The Nigerian Air Force reported that they killed 30 militants in strikes after receiving reports of the raid on the village, where residents had recently returned following years of displacement.
The attack comes amid a resurgence in jihadist activity in Nigeria's north-east, with Boko Haram and its rivals, the West African branch of the Islamic State group, stepping up attacks. More than 20 houses and 10 buses were destroyed in Darul Jamal, while at least 13 drivers and laborers, who had been working on reconstruction efforts in the town, were killed.
Borno Governor Babagana Zulum expressed sadness over the incident, noting that the community had been resettled only months prior. He highlighted the inadequacy of the Nigerian army's strength in dealing with the increasing violence and announced the formation of a new security force, the Forest Guards, to help manage the situation.
Air Force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame detailed how surveillance showed militants fleeing northwards from the town, which led to a series of strikes that neutralized over 30 insurgents. The military has intensified operations in the region in response to persistent targeted attacks. Borno has been the epicenter of a 15-year insurgency by Boko Haram, displacing more than two million individuals and claiming over 40,000 lives.
The situation has worsened since neighboring Niger withdrew its troops from a regional force established to combat the jihadists, raising alarms about the potential resurgence of Boko Haram, noted as early as April by Governor Zulum.
The attack comes amid a resurgence in jihadist activity in Nigeria's north-east, with Boko Haram and its rivals, the West African branch of the Islamic State group, stepping up attacks. More than 20 houses and 10 buses were destroyed in Darul Jamal, while at least 13 drivers and laborers, who had been working on reconstruction efforts in the town, were killed.
Borno Governor Babagana Zulum expressed sadness over the incident, noting that the community had been resettled only months prior. He highlighted the inadequacy of the Nigerian army's strength in dealing with the increasing violence and announced the formation of a new security force, the Forest Guards, to help manage the situation.
Air Force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame detailed how surveillance showed militants fleeing northwards from the town, which led to a series of strikes that neutralized over 30 insurgents. The military has intensified operations in the region in response to persistent targeted attacks. Borno has been the epicenter of a 15-year insurgency by Boko Haram, displacing more than two million individuals and claiming over 40,000 lives.
The situation has worsened since neighboring Niger withdrew its troops from a regional force established to combat the jihadists, raising alarms about the potential resurgence of Boko Haram, noted as early as April by Governor Zulum.
