By Ahmed Kingimi
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) -Suspected Islamist insurgents killed at least 20 Nigerian soldiers, including a commanding officer, after attacking an army base in a remote town in northeastern Borno state, security sources and residents said on Sunday.
Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters have mainly operated in Borno, targeting security forces and civilians, in the process killing and displacing tens of thousands of people.
The latest assault happened on Friday, when ISWAP members arrived on gun trucks and attacked the army’s 149 Battalion in Malam-Fatori town, gateway to a border with neighbouring Niger, two soldiers and residents said.
One of the soldiers who survived the attack told Reuters by phone that troops were taken by surprise as the militants “rained bullets everywhere.”
“We tried so much to repel the attacks and after more than three hours of gun duel, they overpowered us, killing our commanding officer, a lieutenant colonel,” the soldier said, declining to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the media.
He said 20 soldiers died while several were injured.
A Nigerian Army spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Reporting by Ahmed Kingimi, writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe, editing by Christina Fincher)
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