Abuja, Nigeria — An army general and several soldiers were killed during an attempted raid on a military base in northeastern Nigeria early Thursday, officials said.
The attack took place in Benishekh, Borno state, but was foiled, military spokesman Michael Onoja said in a statement.
Onoja described the attackers as “terrorists”, a term the military uses to describe members of Islamist militant groups in the country’s northeast.
President Bola Tinubu confirmed that a general was killed in the attack.
“The rebels’ counter-attack is a sign of desperation,” he said in a statement. “I express my condolences to the families of our gallant soldiers, led by Brigadier General Oseni Omoh Brimah, who made the supreme sacrifice in defense of our country in Borno State today. The government will never forget their sacrifice.”
“Their sacrifices will not go in vain,” Tinubu said. “Because of the courage and dedication of our soldiers on the front lines, our resolve to defeat terrorism and all forms of violence across Nigeria is stronger than ever.”
Onoja did not say how many soldiers were killed in the latest attack on military bases.
“This attack is a clear indication of the desperation of terrorist elements, who continue to resort to futile and ill-fated attacks against well-defended military targets even after suffering significant losses in recent operations,” he said. “Sadly, the encounter resulted in the loss of some brave and courageous soldiers who paid the supreme price in the line of duty.”
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is grappling with a complex security crisis, especially in the north where there has been a decade-long insurgency and multiple armed groups that kidnap for ransom.
The most prominent Islamic terrorist groups are Boko Haram and its splinter group, which is affiliated with the Islamic State group and known as Islamic State West Africa Province. The IS-linked Lakurawa group is also active in communities in the northwestern part of the country bordering Niger Republic.
Recently the crisis has worsened, with the involvement of other militants from the neighboring Sahel region, including Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen, or JNIM, which claimed its first attack on Nigerian soil last year.
Earlier this year, the US sent 200 troops and drones to Nigeria to assist the Nigerian army in fighting extremists. The US military said US troops would not be involved in the combat or have a direct operational role, and Nigerian forces would have full command authority.
The deployment is part of a new security partnership that was agreed after US President Donald Trump accused Christians being targeted Nigeria’s security crisis. America Strikes started Against IS forces on 26 December.
According to UN figures, several thousand people have died in Nigeria. Analysts say the government is not taking enough steps to protect its citizens.
