Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on Friday dislodged the military base in the Garrison town of Dikwa in Borno State, Northeast Nigeria.
Dikwa, the old capital of the Borno Kingdom, lies about 90 kilometres from Maiduguri, the current, and is a link to local governments like Bama, Mafa and Marte.
Dikwa is also reported to be a buffer zone between Sambisa forest and the Lake Chad area.
HumAngle learnt that ISWAP informed locals that they were not in the town for them but the military base. The Nigerian Army 22 Brigade super camp is in Dikwa.
The insurgents also told locals to expect their return to Dikwa in a few days. HumAngle understands that the military and civilians retreated to Ajiri, about 15 km from Dikwa.
At the time of filing the report, it was unclear if the troops reported to be sweeping the town for possible infiltrators were the same troops that retreated to Ajiri.
Troops of 153rd Task Force Battalion earlier dislodged from their base in New Marte were reported to have retreated to Dikwa.
HumAngle, in a previous report on Friday evening, stated that the Army bases in Dikwa and Marte were being attacked. The situation in Marte is still unclear due to inadequate access to information.
HumAngle cannot verify if Marte was attacked on Friday or the troops of 153 Battalion Marte were attacked in Dikwa after they retreated to the super camp.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Dikwa Local Government’s estimated population is 113,9021, including 75,470 internally displaced persons.
Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has repeatedly targeted troops in Dikwa and environs, including logistics and patrol routes.
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