At least five people were killed on Friday, Feb. 25 following an attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) targeting the town of Kautikari, near Chibok in northeastern Nigeria.
According to a local source, the insurgents advanced into the town after moving through Lassa village in Askira Uba area and Shawa village, some kilometres from Chibok, before entering Kautikari between 5 and 6 p.m. on Friday.
The local hunters were reported to have engaged the insurgents in a firefight after the incursion occurred. However, they were able to carry out arson before a military unit arrived and pushed back the insurgents.
In January, ISWAP insurgents also targeted the town which is located in southern Borno state and is situated 16 kilometres from the main town of Chibok and 110 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.
Vulnerable communities in Nigeria’s northeastern state of Borno continue to bear the brunt of security incidents and raids by ISWAP.
The conflict in northeastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad basin has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced over two million.