Terrorists kill at least 14 Nigerian soldiers

Terrorists have killed at least 14 Nigerian soldiers and injured several others during two separate attacks on army bases in the northeastern state of Borno, security sources said.

Terrorists from ISWAP, a group affiliated to DAESH, attacked the Nigerian Army's base in Ngoshe town, Gwoza district, killing at least nine troops and a local imam on Tuesday night; three army sources said late on Wednesday.

The terrorists, who forced the troops to retreat from their base, seized guns and ammunition before abducting an unknown number of women, said the sources, who declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

At the same time, terrorists attacked another military base in Pulka, further north in Gwoza district, killing five soldiers, including a commanding officer – two other sources with knowledge of the attack said.

Injured troops evacuated

The injured troops were taken to Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, for medical treatment. The Nigerian Army did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Nigeria's military has been pushing deeper into terrorists' strongholds in the northeast this year as part of a renewed offensive.

However, ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists continue to mount large-scale attacks, exploiting difficult terrain and porous borders across parts of Nigeria's arid northeast.

Borno remains the epicentre of the 17-year terrorist violence, which has killed thousands and displaced millions of people, according to humanitarian aid groups.