At least one soldier was killed and three others injured when suspected IS – affiliated jihadists ambushed a military convoy in Borno state , according to security sources .
Militants believed to be from the Islamic State West Africa Province on Friday opened fire on the convoy in Kamuya village , close to the family home of Nigeria’ s army chief , Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai , a military officer and a vigilante told AFP .
“ The convoy came under fire from the terrorists near Kamuya at around 11 : 30 am ( 1030 GMT) , killing one soldier and injuring three others ,” said the military officer who spoke on condition of anonymity.
A military pickup truck was “ burnt in the attack ” , said vigilante Mustapha Karimbe who confirmed the casualties .
Kamuya , the home village of Buratai ’s mother , has been repeatedly hit by jihadists since 2015 when Buratai was appointed army chief .
In January this year , six soldiers were killed and 14 injured when ISWAP sacked a base in Kamuya , stealing weapons and burning military vehicles .
The IS -backed faction has repeatedly targeted military installations and troops since mid – 2018 .
Late on Thursday the convoy of Borno state governor was attacked by jihadists from rival Boko Haram faction near Kawuya village , south east of the state capital Maiduguri , but no one was hurt .
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum was returning from a tour of some districts around 2000 GMT when the militants opened fire on his motorcade, two civilian militias who spoke anonymously said.
“ Police escorts in the convoy returned fire and thwarted the ambush , forcing the insurgents to retreat, ” one of the militias said.
In February Boko Haram fighters killed dozens of civilians when they opened fire on the convoy of Zulum ’s predecessor near Dikwa, 80 kilometres ( 50 miles ) east of Maiduguri .
Boko Haram ’s decade -long conflict has killed more than 35 , 000 people and displaced around two million in northeast Nigeria .
AFP
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