International Shia News Agency

Reports: Boko Haram captures town in Nigeria’s northeast

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association)- Takfiri Boko Haram militants have reportedly taken control of another town in the volatile northeastern region of Nigeria near the African country’s border with Niger, forcing many soldiers to flee.

The terrorists captured the town of Malam Fatori in Borno state on Saturday following intense clashes with military forces, a senior official in the neighboring Nigerien town of Diffa said on condition of anonymity.

“Malam Fatori was taken by Boko Haram after violent fighting with the Nigerian army,” said the official in Diffa, where thousands of Malam Fatori residents have taken refuge from the raid.

The official also added that 315 Nigerian soldiers escaped over the border to Diffa. Among them, 13 who were injured were taken to a hospital and the rest were sent back to Nigeria.

Earlier in the week, a Nigerian senator had talked about Boko Haram’s assault on the town.

Senator Maina Maaji Lawan said on Thursday that a multinational task force in the region, including soldiers from Nigeria, Chad and Niger, had initially resisted the attack.

Lawan, however, noted that troops were later compelled to escape by the militants.

The assault highlights the deteriorating security condition in Nigeria’s northeast, where Boko Haram is relentlessly committing crimes despite claims of a ceasefire with the terrorist group by the government.

The Nigerian government announced on October 17 that it had secured a deal with Boko Haram for a truce and the release of more than 200 schoolgirls who were kidnapped by the group back in April.

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, however, rejected the announcement as “a lie,” saying the kidnapped students had converted to Islam and had been married off since being abducted.

 

 

 

Source:PressTV

www.shafaqna.com

 

Leave a Comment