LAGOS, Nigeria Islamic extremists said Tuesday they killed more than 40 troops from a multinational force in an attack on a convoy in northeast Nigeria - the fourth attack in three days following a lull as Nigeria’s home-grown insurgency confronts a leadership struggle.

Analysts are warning that the struggle could lead to more violent attacks that will kill more people in a 7-year-old Islamic uprising started by Boko Haram that has killed more than 20,000 people, forced 2.6 million from their homes and spread to neighboring states.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) West Africa Province annihilated “a convoy of the African Coalition Crusader forces” in the town of Malam Fatori, the SITE Intelligence Group reported, translating an ISIS communique posted on social media. There was no way to independently verify the claim and no word from Nigeria’s military late Tuesday night.

Eighteen people were killed Sunday and Monday when insurgents ambushed another convoy, gunned down Christians leaving a Sunday church service and beheaded a village head and his son.

No one has claimed responsibility for the earlier attacks.

Tuesday’s was the first Nigeria attack claimed by ISIS since August, when it named a new caliph in Nigeria and provoked a struggle with the longtime leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau.

Shekau pledged Boko Haram’s allegiance to the ISIS in 2015, giving it its first sub-Saharan franchise. ISIS said it replaced Shekau in August, in a dispute that revolved around his indiscriminate killings of Muslims.

Many more Muslims than Christians have been killed in attacks targeting mosques, churches, marketplaces and schools.

Tuesday’s ISIS communique did not say when the convoy was attacked but claimed it “resulted in killing more than forty and wounding dozens” of troops from Nigeria and neighboring countries. The multi-national force is also battling Nigeria’s home-grown Islamic insurgents who have spread their extremist uprising to Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

Analysts from IHS Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Centre warned the recent lull and drop in fatalities likely will be followed by increased cross-border attacks.

In the leadership struggle, Shekau has reverted to the old name for his group, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, meaning “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad.” They are commonly called Boko Haram, a nickname that means “Western education is forbidden or evil.”

Sweetle:
I never knew boko haram still possessed the capacity to attack military convoys and force them to withdraw.

Afriifa:
Technically ..... ?

rottennaija:


Seems like you really do wish the military fails in their fight against bokoharam? Do you think you stand to gain anything?

Edroom:
I believe their end is near...

Bro for how long will you continue believing!!

Ooni:
Its obvious this country is finished.

abumeinben:
Great

cycline404:
The main truth of everything going on in the NE has been kept secret

rozayx5:

there is a lot the govt is hiding from us

with the aid of media

Sweetle:
The military should also tell us how many soldiers were killed in the fight because they always hide their casualties and even when they release details they downplay their casualty figures...

Sweetle:
The military should also tell us how many soldiers were killed in the fight because they always hide their casualties and even when they release details they downplay their casualty figures...