United Nations (UN) humanitarian hub, and Military base in Maiduguri was attacked on Monday by jihadist terrorists linked to the Islamic States, seizing 25 aid workers, security and humanitarian sources.
Dikwa town, 90 kilometers (55miles) from Borno State capital with a population of more than 130,000 people, was invaded by scores of Islamic state West Africa province (ISWAP), dislodging troops from the military base, raiding the UN hub.
A military source who confirmed the incident said, ” The ISWAP terrorist launched a simultaneous attacks on the super camp( military base) and the UN humanitarian hub.
“The humanitarian hub has been completely burnt by the militants, but so far no staff has been affected,” an anonymous humanitarian source said.
“We have 25 staff sheltering in the bunker which are under seige by the militants,” it said.
“Military reinforcement deployed from the town of mater, 40 kilometer (25 miles) away, to help repel the attackers.
“Two fighter jets and helicopter gunship are providing aerial support with the primary aim of clearing the terrorist from the burnt humanitarian hub,” the military source said.
Subsequently, the latest assault comes three years to the day after ISWAP fighters attacked a UN humanitarian hub in the town of Rann on march 1, 2018, killing three aid staff and abducting a female worker.
In 2019, the North-eastern Nigeria has been plagued by jihadist violence since Boko Haram launched an islamist insurgency in 2019.
The IS-affiliated ISWAP split from Boko Haram in 2016 and has since become the biggest jihadist threat in Nigeria.
Lolo Ijeoma Njoku reporting, Obinwannem News
