Terrorist attack
Representative Image UNSPLASH

Nine soldiers, two policemen, and several civilians were killed in two separate attacks by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in northeast Nigeria.

The gunmen, believed to be ISWAP members, attacked an army base and the town of Malam Fatori in the Abadam district according to eyewitnesses.

The terrorists rode in trucks fitted with machine guns and opened fire on the soldiers and civilians, causing widespread panic and destruction.

This is the latest in a string of violence committed by ISWAP in the region.

ISWAP is a splinter group of Boko Haram that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. The group has been responsible for scores of attacks on military and civilian targets in recent years, resulting in the death of hundreds of people.

"ISWAP terrorists attacked Malam Fatori and caused huge destruction which we are working to quantify," said a Military Officer.

"They attacked the military base and engaged troops in a fight while a second group went on a killing spree and arson in the town," he added.

The first attack by the jihadists occurred near the Niger border at dusk on Friday, leading to a fierce battle with soldiers who were able to repel the attack, Buji Garwa, a resident, revealed this information to AFP.

The jihadists carried out another assault on the base and town early Saturday morning, hurling explosives and killing residents. Those who attempted to flee drowned in the river.

Death toll not clear

Garwa, an eye witness, told AFP that "a large part of the town had been set on fire by the attackers and It is not clear how many people were killed because we all fled the town and are now gradually returning to assess the damage."

"We have started combing the bushes and picking (up) bodies of those killed and searching along the river banks to find those washed to the shores," he added.