About 18 killed as Boko Haram attacks Nigerian army base, villages

At least 18 people have been killed and over 80 others wounded after suspected Boko Haram Takfiri terrorists staged several attacks in Nigeria’s restive northeast.

Officials said Monday that the terrorists had attacked a military base in the city of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, and two surrounding villages overnight.

A gun battle broke out after the militants attacked the base with bombs, mortars and guns, a senior military officer in Maiduguri said on condition of anonymity.

Seven bombers also targeted residents of nearby Bale Shuwar and Alikaranti villages, the source added.

“So far we have recovered 18 dead bodies from the two villages,” Benlo Dambatto, an official from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) told AFP. “The victims were killed while trying to escape the fight between the insurgents and the military.”

Just last week, the government announced that it is in talks with the  Daesh-affiliated terrorist group with the aim of securing a permanent ceasefire.

The government has not disclosed which elements of Boko Haram it is in discussions with, and neither was it clear which faction carried out Sunday’s attack.

SS