The Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has confirmed the failed attack by suspected terrorists of the Islamic State West Africa Province on a military cantonment in Wawa, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The CDS said five suspects were arrested after the attack was repelled by troops at the base.
Nigeria’s military killed eight suspected Islamic State-allied terrorists after repelling a raid on a military base in central Niger State, where hundreds of terrorists are being held, two military sources said on Monday.
Dozens of Islamic State West Africa Province fighters tried to break into the Wawa military cantonment in the remote New Bussa village near the border with Benin Republic late Saturday to free more than 1,000 of their comrades detained there, the military officers told AFP.
The Wawa attack underscores the threat ISWAP poses to Nigeria as the group expands outside its traditional northeast stronghold, where the army have battled terrorists for more than a decade.
Irabor, however, told journalists on Monday at a news conference in Abuja that the alertness of the soldiers led to the prevention of the attack.
He said, “Some of you must have seen in the media or amongst you that on the night of 29th October, 2022, Wawa Cantonment in Niger State was attacked. Of course, the alertness of the troops led to the neutralisation of the attackers.
“Their vehicles that were laden with IEDs and other items were impounded, and five of those attackers were equally arrested. This is to let you know of the level of alertness of the members of the armed forces, the police, and other security agencies.”
