Jihadist fighters affiliated with the Islamic State killed three soldiers on Wednesday in northeastern Nigeria, in the first attack on a military base in the region since the death of a jihadist leader, according to local sources.
The jihadists stormed a military base located in the town of Gajiganna, 50 kilometers from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
They managed to drive out the soldiers after an intense exchange of fire that resulted in three casualties on the army side.
Members of the Islamic State took weapons and set fire to the base, according to Ibrahim Liman, a member of an anti-jihadist militia that supports the army.
"They arrived in several trucks and on motorcycles, engaged the soldiers in a prolonged fight and succeeded in storming the base," Mr. Liman said.
An intelligence source in the region confirmed this toll and indicated that the base had been "completely razed" by jihadist fighters after troops were forced to withdraw.
An army spokesman told AFP that an investigation would be conducted into the incident.
This is the first attack on a military base in the region since the death of jihadist leader Abu-Bilal al-Minuki last month.
The United States and Nigeria had joined forces to eliminate this senior Islamic State official, described as “ one of the most active terrorists in the world.”
Shortly after Al-Minuki's death, intelligence sources expressed concern about a possible resurgence of Islamic State attacks against military bases, in retaliation for his death.
