Army major killed in ISWAP ambush during patrol in Borno

A major in the Nigerian Army has been killed following an attack on a military patrol by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Damasak, the headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State.

According to The Cable, sources said the officer, who was the commanding officer of the Damasak military base, was leading a foot patrol of about 30 soldiers early on Friday when the team was ambushed by insurgents using explosives and gunfire.

The attack forced the soldiers to scatter. Eight of them later returned to the base, while 22 others were initially unaccounted for, including the commanding officer.

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One source said attempts to reach the officer by phone were answered by an unknown person, fuelling speculation that he may have been captured by the insurgents.

However, another security source dismissed the abduction claim, saying the officer was killed during the ambush.

Efforts to get official confirmation from the Nigerian Army and security authorities in Borno State were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

ISWAP has continued to target military positions and patrols in parts of Borno State. Last year, a brigadier general was killed during an ambush on a military convoy along the Damboa–Wajiroko axis while troops were escorting equipment.