403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were looking for doesn't exist.
Boko Haram recaptures key town northeast Nigeria
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Boko Haram Islamists have recaptured the strategic town of Marte in northeastern Nigeria's restive Borno state, a regional official said early on Saturday.
"It is sad as we have been made to understand that Marte has today completely fallen under the control of the insurgents, which to us is a very huge setback," said Mustapha Zannah, vice governor of the Borno state.
The town, located along a strategic trading route between Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon and Chad, has traded hands between the jihadists and government troops numerous times since 2013.
A regional military coalition of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon has claimed a series of major victories against Boko Haram since launching sweeping offensives against the jihadists in February.
But the Islamist fighters, which recently pledged allegiance to the Islamic State extremists who've captured swathes of Iraq and Syria, have been pushing back.
The jihadists killed at least 55 people in two raids on villages near Maiduguri, the first assault on the northern city in three months.
"Even if 90 percent of our communities have been liberated, the war is not yet over," Zannah cautioned early on Saturday.
Boko Haram's six-year insurgency has claimed some 15,000 lives and displaced about 1.5 million people.
"It is sad as we have been made to understand that Marte has today completely fallen under the control of the insurgents, which to us is a very huge setback," said Mustapha Zannah, vice governor of the Borno state.
The town, located along a strategic trading route between Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon and Chad, has traded hands between the jihadists and government troops numerous times since 2013.
A regional military coalition of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon has claimed a series of major victories against Boko Haram since launching sweeping offensives against the jihadists in February.
But the Islamist fighters, which recently pledged allegiance to the Islamic State extremists who've captured swathes of Iraq and Syria, have been pushing back.
The jihadists killed at least 55 people in two raids on villages near Maiduguri, the first assault on the northern city in three months.
"Even if 90 percent of our communities have been liberated, the war is not yet over," Zannah cautioned early on Saturday.
Boko Haram's six-year insurgency has claimed some 15,000 lives and displaced about 1.5 million people.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any
responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos,
licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues
related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Comments
No comment