KANO: Five people have lost their lives and 11 others sustained injuries after suspected militants launched a rocket-propelled grenade attack on the town of Damboa in Nigeria’s Borno state, according to two militia commanders who spoke to AFP on Sunday.
Late Friday, scores of fighters made an attempt to invade Damboa but were met with strong resistance from the anti-jihadist militia, a paramilitary group that collaborates with the armed forces, the commanders reported.
This incident marks the latest escalation in Nigeria’s 14-year-long jihadist conflict in the northeastern region, where more than 40,000 individuals have lost their lives and over two million have been displaced since 2009.
Babakura Kolo, a militia leader in the region, stated, “Out of desperation, the insurgents fired an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) on the town from a distance, which killed five people and injured 11 others.”
The deceased victims were laid to rest on Saturday, while the injured were transported by helicopter to the regional capital of Maiduguri for medical treatment, as confirmed by Ibrahim Liman, a second militia commander.
Nigeria’s Army Yet to Respond in Inquiries
The Nigerian army, stationed in Damboa to safeguard the military base, has not yet provided a response to inquiries seeking comment.
Damboa, located approximately 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of Maiduguri, lies on the outskirts of the Sambisa forest, which has become an enclave for jihadists. The town has frequently been targeted by attackers who carry out assaults on residents and the military base.
While the Boko Haram jihadist group and its rival, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), typically employ RPG attacks against military targets, the use of such weapons against civilians is relatively rare.
Boko Haram has previously launched volleys of rocket-propelled grenades in attempts to capture the city of Maiduguri. In February 2021, such an attack resulted in the death of 10 individuals and left approximately 60 injured, according to officials.
During the presidential election in February, jihadists fired mortar bombs from mountains overlooking the town of Gwoza on the border with Cameroon, causing injuries to at least five people.
In September 2017, Boko Haram militants fired a rocket-propelled grenade into a camp for displaced people in Ngala, near the Cameroon border, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals. The camp was home to around 80,000 people.
