Mass Violence by Jihadists in Nigeria Prompts Mass Exodus to Cameroon, with Approximately 5,000 Individuals Seeking Refuge.
Jihadist Attacks Continue to Plague Northeast Nigeria
In a disturbing turn of events, jihadist groups, believed to be members of the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP), launched a series of attacks in rural areas of northeast Nigeria over the past few days. The latest attack occurred on Friday, targeting the towns of Banki and Freetown near the Cameroonian border.
According to a security report seen by AFP, the attack was carried out by ISWAP. The assault began around midnight, resulting in the death of one civilian and two soldiers. Amina Bakari, a resident of Banki, reported that everyone was screaming and running as they fled the attack.
The attackers attempted to seize the Banki military base, but were repelled by the military. Reinforcements were necessary to ensure the safety of the area. Ayuba Isa, the deputy commander of the Banki military base, confirmed the attempt.
The air force was called in to provide support during the attack, but the air force spokesman did not respond when asked about the incident by AFP. The attack forced approximately 5,000 civilians to flee to Cameroon, adding to the growing number of displaced people in the region.
This latest attack is part of a concerning trend of increased attacks on military bases, particularly in Borno state, by ISWAP. The group responsible for the attack on Friday in the cities of Banki and Freetown, which led to the subsequent displacement of 5,000 civilians to Cameroon, is Boko Haram.
It is important to note that despite a decrease in jihadist violence since 2013-2015, rebels continue to pose a threat in the region. The ongoing insurgency in Nigeria's northeast, waged by jihadists since 2009, has resulted in around 40,000 deaths and displaced over 2 million people.
Less than two weeks ago, a deadly raid near Darul Jamal, also near Cameroon, resulted in up to 90 deaths. The attacks continue to pose a significant threat in the region and underscore the need for continued vigilance and security measures.
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