Insurgents Target Marte Town In Northeast Nigeria
The attack on Marte is part of a series of attacks on Nigerian security forces and garrison towns in the Northeast.
Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Saturday, Nov. 20, evening launched an attack on the northeastern town of Marte, located near the shores of Lake Chad.
HumAngle understands that the security situation in the remote town is still fluid, with details remaining sketchy as of the time of filing this report.
However, sources said the terrorists entered the besieged town around 5:30 pm on Saturday and stayed there till 2 am Sunday.
They also looted hospital supplies and loaded them in a confiscated pick up van, burnt down a house occupied by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
There are also unconfirmed reports that the fighters have abducted some individuals linked to the state while they assured the rest of the residents of their safety.
Marte is one of the high-risk areas of Borno State inaccessible to humanitarian actors.
The Nigerian military contingent in the area is stationed at the Lake Chad Basin quarters in New Marte.
The town is part of the areas covered by the South Chad irrigation project, built to channel water from Lake Chad to irrigate farmlands.
In January, the town and military base was overrun in a raid that led to fierce clashes between the military and the insurgents. The Air Force destroyed the counterassault, which destroyed ISWAP gun trucks.
Marte was subsequently recaptured weeks later, after a directive from the late Army Chief Ibrahim Attahiru, to recapture the town and clear adjoining villages of terrorist elements.
ISWAP has recently ramped up attacks, with security forces bearing the brunt.
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