At least 20 Nigerian soldiers killed in an attack on a remote army base Boko Haram News

The ISWAP suspects are aimed at the Army Base in the remote city of Malam-Fators in the northeastern part of Borno in Nigeria.

At least 20 Nigerian soldiers have been reported to have been killed in a suspected attack by ISIL branch in the West Africa province (ISWAP).

The attackers headed for an army base in the remote city of Malam-Foters in the northeast state of Borno on Friday, with a surviving soldier saying that the attack lasted more than three hours.

Boko Fighters Boko Haram and Iswap act mainly in Boro and have attacked both security forces and civilians, Killing and displacement tens of thousands of people.

Reuters news agency, citing security sources and residents, said on Sunday that an officer was among the killed after ISWAP members arrived on weapons trucks and attacked the 149th Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Malam-Factors to the border with NigerS

“They were raining bullets everywhere,” one of the surviving soldiers told Reuters on the phone, adding that the troops were surprised.

“We tried to repel the attacks so much, and after more than three hours of pistol duel, they beat us, killing our commander, lieutenant Colonel,” the soldier said, refusing to be baptized because he was not authorized to speak with the media.

He said 20 soldiers were killed while several were injured.

Residents who left the city said some of the attackers were seen in Malam-Factors on Saturday night.

Malacaka Buku, a member of the local militia, appointed army assistance, said the fighters had also burned buildings, forcing some residents to escape from the city.

“They preached to some of the residents,” Buku said.

Iswap split from the main Boko Haram in 2016 to become the dominant armed faction in Northeastern Nigeria.

Although over the years they have been weakened by military attacks and domestic fighting, Boko Haram and Isvas have increased attacks in Boro since the beginning of the year, killing dozens of farmers and fishermen in a series of attacks.

The 15-year conflict killed nearly 40,000 people and displaced about two million of its homes to the northeast.

Violence spilled into a neighboring Niger, Chad and Cameroonleading to the creation of a regional force to combat armed groups.