Islamic extremists claim to kill 40 troops in Nigeria town

Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE and Multinational Joint Task Force have captured Mallam Fatori town in Borno State.

There was no way to independently verify either side’s claims.

Troops have retaken a remote northeastern town along Nigeria’s border with Niger from Boko Haram militants, a military spokesman announced Wednesday.

Northern Borno state, which is near the border with Niger, is inaccessible because of insecurity, with Boko Haram pushed into areas in and around Lake Chad by the military offensive.

Eighteen people were killed Sunday and Monday when extremists gunned down Christians leaving a church service, beheaded a village head and his son and ambushed a convoy within miles of Maiduguri, the biggest city in the northeast.

Tuesday’s battle was the first Nigeria attack claimed by the Islamic State group since August, when it named a new caliph in Nigeria, provoking a leadership struggle.

Barnawi has criticised Shekau for his indiscriminate killing of civilians, majority fellow Muslims.

The group claimed responsibility for the attack and Associated Press reported that it posted a communiqué to this effect on social media.

Although Shekau pledged to continue his fight, analysts have warned the struggle could lead to more violent attacks in the country as it indicated a split over the target of the group.

“The troops killed several of the Boko Haram terrorists in the resulting encounter and subsequently had to withdraw to a vantage position”, he said.