The national security of any nation is an important factor that a government in any country should consider. The military protects the borders of a state to promote the safety of the civilians in a country. However, there are certain threats such as armed groups that threaten the national security of a country.
Specifically, in the northeastern part of Nigeria, there are armed groups that disrupt the safety of the nation. These armed groups are mostly the Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP). The Borno and Yobe states are one of the most common targets for the groups.
There are similar terrorist attacks in countries such as Kenya and Somalia. A few years ago, the Al-Shabab attacked the Westgate Mall in Kenya and killed several people.
The Boko Haram Insurgency
Boko Haram has been in conflict with the Nigerian authorities for a long time. They have carried out several attacks in the state against the military, police, and civilians since 2009.
In 2009, over 900 died in the conflict between the group and the Nigerian soldiers. In 2010, Boko Haram killed more than 2 police officers and less than 5 civilians. A year later, soldier troops killed more than 10 Boko Haram attacks and the armed group also attacked a military institution.
In 2012, the Nigerian military killed more than 9 Boko Haram attackers. In June, the same year soldiers killed over 10 Boko Haram militants and in August the group killed 6 soldiers. The Nigerian Army killed over 8 attackers in 2013, and in May the armed group attacked military barracks. After about 3 months, the armed group attacked a military base. These conflicts have been going on until this year amid the pandemic.
The Jakana Military Base Attack
More than 10 soldiers have lost their lives in an attack on an army base. The army authorities say the attackers from the ISWAP armed group attacked the army base with grenades and guns.
One source says:
“We lost 14 soldiers in the fight, including the commanding officer and another officer.”
Other sources say that some soldiers are missing and people are having their assumptions. Either the soldiers escaped during the attack or the attackers captured them.
Impacts of the Armed Groups’ Attacks in Nigeria
Besides the armed groups threatening the national security of Nigeria, the attacks of these groups have further affected Nigeria. The militants have been stealing the animals of villagers around the state of Borno. Many have fled from their homes in search of safer places to stay.
This has added a burden to the Nigerian government as they need to allocate funds to relocate the victims to better places. Nigeria has collaborated with its neighboring countries such as Niger, Chad, Mali, and Cameroon to fight these armed groups.
Through the use of better strategies, the country can win the fight against the Islamic State’s West Africa Province.
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